Section 2Punishment of offences committed within India

Chapter I — Introduction

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Every person shall be liable to punishment under this Code for every act or omission contrary to its provisions, of which he shall be guilty within India.

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Simple explanation

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Section 2 of the Indian Penal Code states that every person who commits a crime within India will be punished according to IPC. It does not matter who the person is — citizen or foreigner — if the offence is committed within Indian territory, the IPC applies. This section ensures that criminal responsibility exists for any unlawful act done inside India.

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Legal explanation

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Section 2 establishes the principle of territorial criminal liability. It mandates that every person shall be liable to punishment under the Indian Penal Code for any act or illegal omission committed within India that constitutes an offence under the Code. This provision applies universally to all individuals within Indian territory, irrespective of nationality, thereby reinforcing sovereign criminal jurisdiction.

This explanation helps you understand. It is not the law itself.

Examples

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Example 1: A foreign tourist commits theft while visiting India. Even though he is not an Indian citizen, he will be punished under IPC because the offence was committed within India.

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Example 2: An Indian citizen commits assault in Chennai. Since the offence occurred within India, IPC applies directly under Section 2.

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Example 3: A business executive commits fraud inside India. Regardless of status or position, the person is liable for punishment under IPC.

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Related situations

Source and checking

Where this text comes from: Nyayabharat database snapshot (NY_24_09_2026.bacpac)
Type of text: Not the official text
Reviewed by a qualified legal professional?: Not yet
Official law: India Code

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