Stolen Property - Section 410 of Indian Penal Code - Liability of Purchaser of stolen property - Do proper checking before Purchasing used items

Now a day's market of used items is growing and you may get 2nd hand laptop, mobile phones and many other products at very cheaper rate, sometimes lesser than expected price. But before purchasing used items it is our duty to confirm that the seller is the genuine owner of the product. In 2nd hand laptop market most of the shop keepers will not give you either bill or warranty. After purchase of the product, you will not have any document to prove that the item was purchased from particular shop or person. If it is a stolen property, instead of enjoying the product you will be in mental pressure and will have to spend your time to solve legal hustle.

Provisions of Indian Penal Code Related to Stolen Property
Section 410 of Indian Penal Code is as under:
"Property, the possession whereof has been transferred by theft, or by extortion, or by robbery, and property which has been criminally misappropriated or in respect of which criminal breach of trust has been committed, is designed as "stolen property", [whether the transfer has been made, or the misappropriation or breach of trust has been committed, within or without [India]]. But, if such property subsequently comes into the possession of a person legally entitled to the possession thereof, it then ceases to be stolen property.

Dishonestly receiving stolen property- Section 411 of Indian Penal Code
Whoever dishonestly receives or retains any stolen property, knowing or having reason to believe the same to be stolen property, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

Dishonestly receiving property stolen in the commission of a dacoity - Section 412 of Indian Penal Code
Whoever dishonestly receives or retains any stolen property, the possession whereof he knows or has reason to believe to have been transferred by the commission of dacoity, or dishonestly receives from a person, whom he knows or has reason to believe to belong or to have belonged to a gang of dacoits, property which he knows or has reason to believe to have been stolen, shall be punished with [imprisonment for life], or with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Habitually dealing in stolen property - Section 413 of Indian Penal Code
Whoever habitually receives or deals in property which he knows or has reason to believe to be stolen property, shall be punished with [imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Assisting in concealment of stolen property - Section 414 of Indian Penal Code
Whoever voluntarily assists in concealing or disposing of or making away with property which he knows or has reason to believe to be stolen property, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

Before purchasing any used items please ensure the following:
If the product is purchasing from a shop, collect proper bill with Name, Address and tax details of the shop. The blank bill form without address and information of shop will not work.

If the purchase is from an Individual, please collect a declaration signed by the seller mentioning that he is the genuine owner and selling the product of this much of price.

If possible collect the original purchase bill also

Ensure that the seller is genuine

If the product is selling for a very low price, there will be something wrong

Take warranty details in writing

Never purchase a used product without bill or declaration

Never purchase used products from strangers

Check whether the product working properly

Never go for used items, if you can afford to purchase a new item with low configuration. Because all new products are coming with a warranty. For old products even the parts will not be available.

Ensure that the product is not a stolen item.