Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 393
repealedAttempt to commit robbery
Whoever attempts to commit robbery shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Why this exists
This section makes clear that trying to commit robbery is itself a serious offence, even if the attempt fails and no property is actually taken. It exists so that offenders cannot avoid strong punishment simply because their plan was interrupted, resisted, or otherwise unsuccessful, since the danger and fear caused by an attempted robbery can be almost as serious as a completed one. A similar attempt provision continues under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which replaced the Indian Penal Code in 2024.