Penalty Info

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Unlawful assembly and riotingPossibly — unconfirmed

Possibly — unconfirmed

Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.

Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed

§ 189(2) — membership of an unlawful assembly (knowingly joining / continuing)Possibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 6 months
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

§ 189(3) — joining / continuing in an unlawful assembly after lawful dispersal commandPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 2 years
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

§ 189(4) — armed membership of an unlawful assembly (deadly weapon / anything likely to cause death)Possibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 2 years
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

§ 189(5) — continuing in an assembly likely to disturb public peace after dispersal commandPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 6 months
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

§ 189(7) — harbouring persons hired for an unlawful assemblyPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 6 months
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

§ 189(8) — being hired / offering / attempting to be hired for a prohibited actPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 6 months
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

§ 189(9) — being hired to go armed, or offering to go armedPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 2 years
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

§ 191(2) — riotingPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 2 years
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Force / violence by the assembly or any member in prosecution of the common object.

§ 191(3) — rioting armed with a deadly weapon or anything which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause deathPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 5 years
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Note on this entry

§ 190 makes every member liable for any offence committed in prosecution of the common object — exposure there is set by that offence, not by the rioting maximum.

Source

Statute
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 §§ 189, 191
Official source
KembaraXtra / OneFiling reproductions of BNS text (not India Code)
Verification status
India Code could not be read directly; § 189 tiers corroborated from two independent reproductions; § 191(3) rests on a single summary and needs re-check against India Code.
Last verified
2026-10-19
Not legal advice. This range is the statutory penalty as written in the law — it is not “your sentence.” What is NOT accounted for here: Priors, plea, judicial discretion; substantive offences committed in prosecution of the common object (§ 190) carry their own penalties. If you face a real charge, consult a licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.