Crime in India – 2017

SNAPSHOTS
(Metropolitan Cities - >2 Million Population)

A) Executive Summary

i. A total of 7,29,174 cognizable crimes comprising 5,27,086 Indian Penal Code (IPC) crimes and
2,02,088 Special & Local Laws (SLL) crimes were registered in 19 metropolitan cities during 2017,
showing a decrease of 9.8% over 2016 (8,08,637 cases).[Table –1B.1& 1B.2]

ii. During 2017, IPC crimes have increased by 2.6% and SLL crimes have decreased by 31.5% over
2016. [Table – 1B.1& 1B.2]

iii. Percentage share of IPC was 72.3% while percentage share of SLL cases was 27.7% during
2017.[Table – 1B.1& 1B.2]

iv. Under IPC crimes, majority of cases were registered under theft accounting for 44.0% (2,31,671
out of 5,27,086 cases) followed by Rash Driving on Public way with 10.0% (52,511 cases) and hurt
with 7.5% (39,616 cases) during 2017. [Table – 1B.4]

v. Under SLL crimes, majority of cases were registered under Prohibition Act accounting for 25.6%
(51,649 out of 2,02,088 cases) followed Motor Vehicle Act accounting for 10.8% (21,911 cases)
and The Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act accounting for 8.8% (17,706 cases) during
2017. [Table – 1B.5]

B) Offences Affecting the Human Body1

A total of 84,013 cases of offences affecting the human body were registered which accounting
for 15.9% of total IPC crimes in 19 metropolitan cities during 2017, out of which hurt (39,616
cases) accounting for maximum cases i.e. 47.2% followed by cases of kidnapping & abduction
(14,759 cases) and Causing Death by Negligence (9,216 cases) accounting for 17.6% and 11.0%
respectively. [Table – 1B.4]

C) Violent Crimes

C.1 Murder

i. A total of 1,976 cases of murder were registered during 2017, showing a decline of 9.9% over
2016 (2,194 cases).[Table – 2B.1]

Note: 1: Chapter XVI of IPC covers gamut of cases relating to “Offences affecting the Human Body”

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 ii. ‘Disputes’ (623 cases) was the motive of murder in highest number of cases followed by
‘Personal Vendetta or Enmity’ (439 cases) and ‘Gain’ (142 cases). [Table – 2B.2]

C.2 Kidnapping & Abduction

i. A total of 14,759 cases of kidnapping & abduction were registered during 2017, showing a decline
of 1.9% over 2016 (15,041 cases). [Table – 2D.1]

ii. During 2017, a total of 17,082 kidnapped or abducted persons (6,827 male and 10,210 female)
were recovered of which 17,049 persons were recovered alive and 52 were dead. [Table – 2D.4]

D) Offences Against Public Tranquillity

A total of 5,500 cases of offences against public tranquillity were registered under various
sections of IPC during 2017, out of which rioting cases (2,924) accounting for 53.2% of total such
cases. [Table – 1B.4]

E) Crime against Women

Majority of cases under crimes against women were registered under ‘Cruelty by Husband or his
Relatives’ (27.9%) followed by ‘Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty’ (21.7%),
‘Kidnaping & Abduction of Women’ (20.5%) and ‘Rape’ (7.0%). [Table – 3B.2(i)]

F) Crime against Children

In percentage terms, major crime heads under ‘Crime Against Children’ during 2017 were
kidnapping & abduction (56.9%) followed by cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual
Offences Act, 2012 (26.2%). [Table – 4B.2(ii)]

G) Juveniles in Conflict with Law

i. A total of 9,664 juveniles were apprehended in 7,606 cases, out of which 9,194 juveniles were
apprehended under IPC cases and 470 juveniles were apprehended under SLL cases during 2017.
[Table – 5B.4]
ii. Majority of juveniles in conflict with law apprehended under IPC & SLL crimes were in the age
group of 16 yrs. to 18 years (70.3%) (6,793 out of 9,664) during 2017. [Table –5B.4]

H) Crime against Senior Citizens

A total of 3,732 cases of crimes against senior citizens were registered in 19 metropolitan cities
during 2017 as compared to 3,562 cases during 2016, showing an increase of 4.8% during 2017
over 2016. [Table – 6B.1]

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I) Economic Offences

In 19 metropolitan cities, out of three specified category of economic offences viz. criminal
breach of trust, counterfeiting and forgery, cheating & fraud, maximum cases were registered
under forgery, cheating & fraud (25,759 cases) accounting for 88.6% during 2017. [Table – 8B.2]

J) Offences Against Property

During 2017, a total of 2,65,735 cases were registered under offences against property (50.4% of
total IPC crimes) out of which, theft (2,31,671 cases) accounting for 87.2% of total such cases of
which maximum cases occurred in Delhi (1,61,818 cases) followed by Bengaluru (10,804 cases)
and Mumbai (9,718 cases) accounting for 69.8%, 4.7% and 4.2% of total theft cases respectively.
[Table – 1B.4]

K) Offences Against Documents & Property Marks

During 2017, total of 25,965 cases were registered under offences against documents & property
marks (comprising of counterfeiting and forgery, cheating & fraud), out of which forgery, cheating
& fraud (25,759 cases) accounting for 99.2 % of total such cases. [Table – 1B.4]

L) Disposal of IPC Cases by Police & Court

Total Cases
Chargesheeting Total Cases Total Cases Conviction
S. No. Crime Head under IPC for
Rate for Trial Convicted Rate
Investigation
1. Murder 3,373 88.8 17,464 395 37.3

2. Rape 4,551 92.0 14,370 297 27.2

3. Rioting 5,890 86.9 26,309 270 18.3

4. Kidnapping & Abduction 26,401 20.1 20,249 216 26.2

M) Disposal of SLL Cases by Police & Court

S. Crime Head under SLL Total Cases Chargesheeting Total Cases Total Cases Conviction
No. for Rate for Trial Convicted Rate
Investigation
1. The Excise Act 14,179 99.4 29,476 2,055 77.4
2. Motor Vehicle Act 24,419 100.0 1,05,807 14,067 93.0
3. Narcotic Drugs & 24,129 99.9 51,130 6,571 77.1
Psychotropic
Substances Act, 1985

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N) Arrests, Convictions & Acquittals

i. A total of 5,33,782 persons were arrested under 5,27,086 IPC crimes. A total of 3,85,511 persons
were chargesheeted, 90,132 persons were convicted, 73,357 persons were acquitted and 8,738
persons were discharged. [Table – 19B.6 ]
ii. A total of 2,60,430 persons were arrested under 2,02,088 SLL crimes. A total of 2,22,519 persons
were chargesheeted, 84,942 persons were convicted, 24,230 persons were acquitted and 2,749
persons were discharged. [Table – 19B.8]

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