Section 192-195

Sections 192–195 target the essential economic infrastructure of property crime: the 'fence' — the person who buys, receives, or deals in stolen property. Without ready markets for stolen goods, theft, robbery, and dacoity would be far less economically attractive. By criminalising the receiver, Indian law attacks the supply chain of property crime. Section 192 defines 'stolen property' broadly — it encompasses property obtained through theft, extortion, robbery, and dacoity. Section 193 makes receiving or retaining any stolen property a criminal offence where the receiver knows or has reason to believe the property was stolen. The 'reason to believe' standard is important — a pawnbroker who takes a Rolex watch at a fraction of its value from a suspicious stranger has 'reason to believe' it may be stolen, even without direct knowledge. Section 194 dramatically escalates the punishment where the property was stolen during a dacoity — up to 10 years, because such property is the fruit of the most violent organised crime. Section 195 punishes habitual dealers in stolen property — those who make a business of fencing — with up to 10 years. This provision is used against scrap dealers, second-hand goods markets, and online marketplaces that systematically deal in stolen goods.