Home / India / West Bengal, India
West Bengal, India State law
State law + central baseline (BNS 2023)
Jurisdiction Central criminal law (BNS 2023, NDPS Act, IT Act, Arms Act, Motor Vehicles Act) applies in West Bengal except where a state law below adds penalties. No state prohibition regime: alcohol is regulated (not banned) under the Bengal Excise Act 1909.
0 verified · 16 possibly — unconfirmed · 0 verification pending
Offences by family
Against the person
Assault (aggravated) Possibly — unconfirmed
Read this before the range Central law applies — no separate state penalty.
Possibly — unconfirmed Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Central law applies — see India entry Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- —
- Fine
- —
No separate state penalty; the central statute governs.
- Statute
- BNS ss. 116–118
- Official source
- India Code (central entry — see India file); no separate state penalty located
- Verification note
- Central-law range — see India entry; direct India Code confirmation still required (India Code direct fetch returned HTTP 403 on 2026-10-19).
- 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, discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a
licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.
Assault (simple) Possibly — unconfirmed
Read this before the range Central law applies — no separate state penalty.
Possibly — unconfirmed Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Central law applies — see India entry Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- —
- Fine
- —
No separate state penalty; the central statute governs.
- Statute
- BNS ss. 114–115
- Official source
- India Code (central entry — see India file); no separate state penalty located
- Verification note
- Central-law range — see India entry; direct India Code confirmation still required (India Code direct fetch returned HTTP 403 on 2026-10-19).
- 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, discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a
licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.
Domestic violence Possibly — unconfirmed
Read this before the range Central law applies — no separate state penalty. Domestic violence in India is a framework, NOT a single offence: the PWDVA 2005 provides reliefs (ss. 18–23, no penalties); penalties come from PWDVA breach provisions and BNS ss. 85–86.
Possibly — unconfirmed Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Central law applies — see India entry Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- —
- Fine
- —
No separate state penalty; the central statute governs.
- Statute
- PWDVA 2005 + BNS ss. 85–86
- Official source
- India Code (central entry — see India file); no separate state penalty located
- Verification note
- Central-law range — see India entry; direct India Code confirmation still required (India Code direct fetch returned HTTP 403 on 2026-10-19).
- 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, discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a
licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.
Homicide — manslaughter Possibly — unconfirmed
Read this before the range Central law applies — no separate state penalty. Do not label “manslaughter” as if the BNS used the word — the BNS charges culpable homicide not amounting to murder (ss. 100 / 101 / 105).
Possibly — unconfirmed Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Central law applies — see India entry Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- —
- Fine
- —
No separate state penalty; the central statute governs.
- Statute
- BNS ss. 100 / 101 / 105
- Official source
- India Code (central entry — see India file); no separate state penalty located
- Verification note
- Central-law range — see India entry; direct India Code confirmation still required (India Code direct fetch returned HTTP 403 on 2026-10-19).
- 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, discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a
licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.
Homicide — murder Possibly — unconfirmed
Read this before the range Central law applies — no separate state penalty.
Possibly — unconfirmed Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Central law applies — see India entry Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- —
- Fine
- —
No separate state penalty; the central statute governs.
- Statute
- BNS ss. 101 / 103 / 104
- Official source
- India Code (central entry — see India file); no separate state penalty located
- Verification note
- Central-law range — see India entry; direct India Code confirmation still required (India Code direct fetch returned HTTP 403 on 2026-10-19).
- 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, discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a
licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.
Sexual offences
Sexual assault / rape Possibly — unconfirmed
Read this before the range Central law applies — no separate state penalty.
Possibly — unconfirmed Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Central law applies — see India entry Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- —
- Fine
- —
No separate state penalty; the central statute governs.
Note on this entry NOT IN FORCE — the Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill 2024, which would have made death the mandatory punishment for rape resulting in death or vegetative state, was passed by the Assembly on 3 September 2024 and reserved for the President; the Union Government objected in early 2025 that its penalties were excessively harsh and disproportionate to the BNS, and Presidential assent had not been given. The central BNS penalties in the India entry apply.
- Statute
- BNS ss. 63–71 (central)
- Official source
- India Code (central entry — see India file); no separate state penalty located
- Verification note
- Central-law range — see India entry; direct India Code confirmation still required (India Code direct fetch returned HTTP 403 on 2026-10-19).
- 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, discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a
licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.
Property
Burglary Possibly — unconfirmed
Read this before the range Central law applies — no separate state penalty. Do not label “burglary” as if the BNS used the word — the BNS charges house-trespass / house-breaking (ss. 330–331).
Possibly — unconfirmed Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Central law applies — see India entry Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- —
- Fine
- —
No separate state penalty; the central statute governs.
- Statute
- BNS ss. 330–331
- Official source
- India Code (central entry — see India file); no separate state penalty located
- Verification note
- Central-law range — see India entry; direct India Code confirmation still required (India Code direct fetch returned HTTP 403 on 2026-10-19).
- 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, discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a
licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.
Robbery Possibly — unconfirmed
Read this before the range Central law applies — no separate state penalty.
Possibly — unconfirmed Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Central law applies — see India entry Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- —
- Fine
- —
No separate state penalty; the central statute governs.
- Statute
- BNS s. 309
- Official source
- India Code (central entry — see India file); no separate state penalty located
- Verification note
- Central-law range — see India entry; direct India Code confirmation still required (India Code direct fetch returned HTTP 403 on 2026-10-19).
- 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, discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a
licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.
Theft Possibly — unconfirmed
Read this before the range Central law applies — no separate state penalty.
Possibly — unconfirmed Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Central law applies — see India entry Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- —
- Fine
- —
No separate state penalty; the central statute governs.
- Statute
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) s. 303
- Official source
- India Code (central entry — see India file); no separate state penalty located
- Verification note
- Central-law range — see India entry; direct India Code confirmation still required (India Code direct fetch returned HTTP 403 on 2026-10-19).
- 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 beyond tier, plea, discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a
licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.
Vandalism / criminal damage Possibly — unconfirmed
Read this before the range Central law applies — no separate state penalty.
Possibly — unconfirmed Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Central law applies — see India entry Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- —
- Fine
- —
No separate state penalty; the central statute governs.
- Statute
- BNS s. 324
- Official source
- India Code (central entry — see India file); no separate state penalty located
- Verification note
- Central-law range — see India entry; direct India Code confirmation still required (India Code direct fetch returned HTTP 403 on 2026-10-19).
- 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, discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a
licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.
Fraud & financial
Fraud Possibly — unconfirmed
Read this before the range Central law applies — no separate state penalty.
Possibly — unconfirmed Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Central law applies — see India entry Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- —
- Fine
- —
No separate state penalty; the central statute governs.
- Statute
- BNS s. 318
- Official source
- India Code (central entry — see India file); no separate state penalty located
- Verification note
- Central-law range — see India entry; direct India Code confirmation still required (India Code direct fetch returned HTTP 403 on 2026-10-19).
- 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, discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a
licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.
Drugs
Drug possession Possibly — unconfirmed
Read this before the range Central law applies — no separate state penalty.
Possibly — unconfirmed Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Central law applies — see India entry Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- —
- Fine
- —
No separate state penalty; the central statute governs.
- Statute
- NDPS Act ss. 20 / 21 / 22 (prohibition s. 8(c))
- Official source
- India Code (central entry — see India file); no separate state penalty located
- Verification note
- Central-law range — see India entry; direct India Code confirmation still required (India Code direct fetch returned HTTP 403 on 2026-10-19).
- 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 (except s. 31 note), intent, plea, discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a
licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.
Drug trafficking / sale Possibly — unconfirmed
Read this before the range Central law applies — no separate state penalty.
Possibly — unconfirmed Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Central law applies — see India entry Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- —
- Fine
- —
No separate state penalty; the central statute governs.
- Statute
- NDPS Act ss. 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 27A
- Official source
- India Code (central entry — see India file); no separate state penalty located
- Verification note
- Central-law range — see India entry; direct India Code confirmation still required (India Code direct fetch returned HTTP 403 on 2026-10-19).
- 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, intent, plea, discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a
licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.
Weapons
Weapons offences Possibly — unconfirmed
Read this before the range Central law applies — no separate state penalty.
Possibly — unconfirmed Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Central law applies — see India entry Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- —
- Fine
- —
No separate state penalty; the central statute governs.
- Statute
- Arms Act 1959 s. 25 (post-2019)
- Official source
- India Code (central entry — see India file); no separate state penalty located
- Verification note
- Central-law range — see India entry; direct India Code confirmation still required (India Code direct fetch returned HTTP 403 on 2026-10-19).
- 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, discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a
licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.
Traffic & transport
DUI / drink driving Possibly — unconfirmed
Read this before the range State excise penalty for alcohol offences (DUI-adjacent). The central MV Act s. 185 drink-driving offence also applies — see the central tier.
Possibly — unconfirmed Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Central law applies — see India entry Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- —
- Fine
- —
No separate state penalty; the central statute governs.
s. 46 — unlawful manufacture, import/export/transport/possession/sale of intoxicant (other than spirit / intoxicating drugs), bottling liquor for sale, removing intoxicant from a licensed place Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- Imprisonment up to 3 years
- Fine
- Fine up to ₹10,000
Imprisonment AND fine.
Note on this entry s. 46A and other penalty sections (e.g. hemp/intoxicating-drug offences, adulteration) were not resolved in this research pass — not encoded.
- Statute
- Bengal Excise Act 1909 s. 46 + Motor Vehicles Act 1988 s. 185 (central)
- Official source
- Indian Kanoon reproduction of Bengal Excise Act 1909 (non-official)
- Verification note
- Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Figures rest on Act-text reproductions; a direct official-text re-check is still required.
- 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, 3-year window unresolved, plea, discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a
licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.
Cyber & digital
Cybercrime / hacking Possibly — unconfirmed
Read this before the range Central law applies — no separate state penalty.
Possibly — unconfirmed Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
Central law applies — see India entry Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- —
- Fine
- —
No separate state penalty; the central statute governs.
- Statute
- IT Act 2000 (2008 amendment)
- Official source
- India Code (central entry — see India file); no separate state penalty located
- Verification note
- Central-law range — see India entry; direct India Code confirmation still required (India Code direct fetch returned HTTP 403 on 2026-10-19).
- 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, discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a
licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.