On February 3, 2026, Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 650, regarding mob lynching crime, posed by Shri Satish Kumar Gautam, was answered by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar. The question inquired whether mob lynching has been earmarked as a crime under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), its details, and the maximum punishment.
The answer states that for the first time, mob lynching has been made punishable under Section 103 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Section 103 (2) of BNS stipulates that if a group of five or more persons, acting in concert, commits murder based on race, caste, community, sex, place of birth, language, personal belief, or any other similar ground, each member of the group shall be punished with death or imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine.
Key Entities Referenced
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): Indian law code that includes provisions for mob lynching, specifically addressed in Section 103(2) BNS.
Mob Lynching: The subject of the parliamentary question and the crime addressed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), section 103(2).
Ministry of Home Affairs: The ministry to which the parliamentary question is directed, concerning mob lynching crime.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 650
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3RD FEBRUARY, 2026/ MAGHA 14, 1947 (SAKA)
MOB LYNCHING CRIME
†650. SHRI SATISH KUMAR GAUTAM:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether mob lynching has been earmarked as a crime under the
Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS);
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the maximum punishment for the purpose of justice?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI BANDI SANJAY KUMAR)
(a) to (c): For the first time, new offence of mob lynching has been made
punishable in section 103 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Section 103 (2) of BNS provides that when a group of five or more persons
acting in concert commits murder on the ground of race, caste or
community, sex, place of birth, language, personal belief or any other
similar ground, each member of such group shall be punished with death
or with imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.
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