Delhi APO 2005

Several persons acting in concert, forcibly removed an ox and two cows from the possession of a butcher for the purpose of protecting them from slaughter. They are guilty of which one of the following?

Verified Answer
A. Extortion
B. Robbery
C. Rioting
D. No offence

Explanation:

Robbery is essentially aggravated theft. If theft is committed by putting a person in fear of instant death, hurt, or wrongful restraint, or by actually causing such fear or restraint, it is robbery. Here, the animals were 'forcibly removed' from the butcher's possession, which implies the use of force or threat, making it robbery, even if the motive was to protect the animals. The act of taking property from a person's possession without consent, using force, falls under the definition of robbery.