Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 397
repealedRobbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt
If, at the time of committing robbery or dacoity, the offender uses any deadly weapon, or causes grievous hurt to any person, so attempts to cause death or grievous hurt to any person, the imprisonment with which such offender shall be punished shall not be less than seven years.
Why this exists
This section sets a mandatory minimum sentence, rather than just a maximum, for the most dangerous forms of robbery or dacoity, those involving deadly weapons or serious injury or its attempt. By fixing a floor rather than leaving full discretion to the court, the law ensures that such especially violent crimes are always met with a substantial prison term, reflecting how seriously such conduct is regarded. A similarly structured minimum-sentence provision for aggravated robbery or dacoity continues under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which replaced the Indian Penal Code in 2024.