Crime Law: It is a crime to seduce another's wife with criminal intent... know how much punishment is there in the new law

Under Section 84 of the Indian Justice Code (BNS), it is a punishable offense to seduce a married woman with criminal intent and take her away from her husband or keep her in custody. Let us know how many years of punishment is provided for doing this and what has been said in BNS about adultery.

Section 84 comes in Chapter 5 of the Indian Judicial Code.

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On July 1, the rule of laws that were in place since the British era ended. In their place, 3 new laws, Indian Justice Code (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita), Indian Civil Security Code (Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita) and Indian Evidence Act have been implemented. Of these, the Indian Justice Code will replace the IPC (1860). About 20 new crimes have been added in the new law. Also, many crimes are still kept in the category of crime. One of them is luring a married woman with wrong intentions. Let us know what changes have been made in BNS regarding this.

There are a total of 20 chapters in the Indian Judicial Code. Earlier, crimes against women and children were scattered separately in the old IPC law. Now in the new law, they have been put together in Chapter-5. This also includes marriage-related crimes, of which Section 84 makes it a punishable offense to seduce a married woman with criminal intent.

What is Section 84 of BNS?

Under Section 84 of the Indian Penal Code –

Whoever takes or entices a woman who is the wife of another man, and he knowing the contrary, with the intent that she may have illicit intercourse with any person, or with that intent conceals or detains a woman, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years.

In simple terms, luring a married woman with criminal intent and taking her away from her husband or keeping her in custody is a punishable offence. If found guilty, the person will be punished with imprisonment of up to two years or fine or both.

Is it a crime under IPC to seduce another man's wife with wrong intentions?

Under Section 498 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, it is a crime to abduct or detain a married woman with criminal intent. In this too, the guilty are liable to be punished with imprisonment of up to two years or fine or both.

A complaint for violation of Section 498 of the Indian Penal Code can be filed by the husband or, if he is not present, by any person responsible for the welfare of the woman concerned.

Adultery did not find a place in BNS

Adultery is not included in the Indian Justice Code 2023. Adultery was a serious crime under Section 497 of the IPC. However, the Supreme Court declared Section 497 unconstitutional in 2018. Section 497 read, if a man has sexual relations with a woman knowing that she is the wife of another man and without the consent or connivance of that person, then he will be guilty of the crime of adultery. This will not fall under the category of rape.

Adultery was a punishable offence and the law provided for a punishment of five years' imprisonment or fine or both. While striking down the section, the Supreme Court had said that Section 497 was an arbitrary and archaic law which violated women's rights to equality and equal opportunities.