Section 139 in THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023 – BNS

Kidnapping or
maiming a
child for
purposes of
begging

139. (1) Whoever kidnaps any child or, not being the lawful guardian of such child,
     obtains the custody of the child, in order that such child may be employed or used for the
     purposes of begging shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall
     not be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be
     liable to fine.
     (2) Whoever maims any child in order that such child may be employed or used for the
     purposes of begging shall be punishable with imprisonment which shall not be less than
     twenty years, but which may extend to life which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder
     of that person’s natural life, and with fine.
     (3) Where any person, not being the lawful guardian of a child employs or uses such
     child for the purposes of begging, it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that he
     kidnapped or otherwise obtained the custody of such child in order that such child might be
     employed or used for the purposes of begging.
     (4) In this section “begging” means—
     (i) soliciting or receiving alms in a public place, whether under the pretence of
     singing, dancing, fortune telling, performing tricks or selling articles or otherwise;
     (ii) entering on any private premises for the purpose of soliciting or receiving
     alms;
     (iii) exposing or exhibiting, with the object of obtaining or extorting alms, any
     sore, wound, injury, deformity or disease, whether of himself or of any other person or
     of an animal;
     (iv) using such child as an exhibit for the purpose of soliciting or receiving alms.