Under s.310 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, robbery is dacoity when it is committed by:

Section 310 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 defines dacoity: when five or more persons conjointly commit or attempt to commit a robbery, every person who commits, attempts to commit, or aids in the commission of the robbery is said to commit dacoity. The minimum number of participants is therefore five, the distinctive element separating dacoity from robbery and theft. Robbery itself is defined in s.309, requiring theft accompanied by, or attempted by, violence or the threat of instant violence or wrongful restraint. Dacoity is punishable under s.311 with imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment which may extend to ten years, with fine. Two, three, four and seven persons are incorrect because the statute fixes the qualifying number at five or more persons acting conjointly.