Skip to content
Wednesday, 11 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter VII: Of Offences Against The State

Section 158 BNS: Aiding escape of, rescuing or harbouring such prisoner

Corresponding IPC
Section 130 IPC
Punishment
Imprisonment for life, or up to 10 years, and fine

Classification of offence

SectionCognizable?Bailable?Triable by
158CognizableNon-bailableCourt of Session

As per the First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Bare Act text

Whoever knowingly aids or assists any State prisoner or prisoner of war in escaping from lawful custody, or rescues or attempts to rescue any such prisoner, or harbours or conceals any such prisoner who has escaped from lawful custody, or offers or attempts to offer any resistance to the recapture of such prisoner, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Explanation.—A State prisoner or prisoner of war, who is permitted to be at large on his parole within certain limits in India, is said to escape from lawful custody if he goes beyond the limits within which he is allowed to be at large.

Text as enacted in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act No. 45 of 2023), in force from 1 July 2024. Source: India Code, Government of India.

In simple words

Punishes knowingly aiding the escape of, rescuing or attempting to rescue, harbouring, or resisting recapture of a State prisoner or prisoner of war. A prisoner on parole who goes beyond permitted limits is deemed to escape.

Chapter VII: Of Offences Against The State

  1. 147 Waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against Government of
  2. 148 Conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 147
  3. 149 Collecting arms, etc., with intention of waging war against Government of India
  4. 150 Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war
  5. 151 Assaulting President, Governor, etc., with intent to compel or restrain exercise of any lawful power
  6. 152 Act endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India
  7. 153 Waging war against Government of any foreign State at peace with Government of India
  8. 154 Committing depredation on territories of foreign State at peace with Government of India
  9. 155 Receiving property taken by war or depredation mentioned in sections 153 and 154
  10. 156 Public servant voluntarily allowing prisoner of State or war to escape
  11. 157 Public servant negligently suffering such prisoner to escape
  12. 158 Aiding escape of, rescuing or harbouring such prisoner
ShareWhatsAppTelegramLinkedInX