IPC Section 498: Enticing or taking away or detaining with criminal intent a married woman
Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Chapter 20: Offences Relating to Marriage
Repealed on 1 July 2024 and replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).
Whoever takes or entices away any woman who is and whom he knows or has reason to believe to be the wife of any other man, from that man, or from any person having the care of her on behalf of that man, with intent that she may have illicit intercourse with any person, or conceals or detains with that intent any such woman, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Bare act text for reference, current to 30 June 2024. It is not legal advice; check the official gazette for authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 493. Cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage
- 494. Marrying again during lifetime of husband or wife
- 495. Same offence with concealment of former marriage from person with whom subsequent marriage is contracted
- 496. Marriage ceremony fraudulently gone through without lawful marriage
- 497. Adultery [Declared unconstitutional by Supreme Court of India]