Ram, a cashier in a scheduled bank, misappropriated ₹18 lakh of customers' deposits over three years by falsifying ledger entries and using the amounts for his personal expenses. Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, which provision most directly applies and what is the punishment?

Where property is entrusted to a person and that person dishonestly misappropriates or converts it to his own use, or uses it in violation of the direction of law or of the entrustment contract, the offence is criminal breach of trust under Section 316 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023. Section 316(5) covers the aggravated form committed by a carrier, wharfinger or warehouse-keeper and by a banker, merchant, factor, broker, attorney or agent, punishable with imprisonment for life or for up to ten years, along with fine. A bank cashier who misappropriates customers' deposits misuses property entrusted to him as a banker, attracting the aggravated provision. Theft under Section 303 involves taking without entrustment, and misappropriation under Section 314 involves conversion of property already possessed, so neither applies to entrusted funds.