Indian law treats the removal of a person's clothes without their consent as a serious criminal offence, and the specific provisions that apply depend on the exact circumstances, particularly whether the act was accompanied by an intent to disrobe or to sexually assault, and whether it occurred in public or private.

The most directly applicable provision is Section 76 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, corresponding to Section 354B of the IPC, which specifically criminalises assaulting or using criminal force to a woman, or abetting such an act, with the intention of disrobing her or compelling her to be naked. This offence carries punishment of imprisonment for a term not less than three years, extending up to seven years, along with a fine, and importantly, this is a non-bailable, cognizable offence given its seriousness, reflecting the significant harm and violation this specific act causes.

If the act of removing clothes without consent occurred in the context of, or as a precursor to, a more serious sexual assault, it would additionally or alternatively fall under Section 74 BNS (Section 354 IPC, assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty), Section 75 BNS (Section 354A IPC, sexual harassment) if there was unwelcome physical contact of a sexual nature, or in the most serious cases involving actual sexual assault, Section 64 BNS (Section 376 IPC, rape) or Section 63 depending on the specific nature of the act, all of which we've discussed extensively throughout our conversation. The specific charge or combination of charges depends entirely on the exact conduct, intent, and consequences involved in your particular situation.

If this occurred in a public place, or if the removal of clothes was done specifically to outrage the person's modesty, Section 74 BNS also becomes relevant, and if photographs or video were taken of the person during or after this act without consent, this separately and additionally constitutes voyeurism under Section 77 BNS (Section 354C IPC), which specifically criminalises capturing or disseminating images of a woman engaging in a private act (which includes being undressed or in a state of partial undress) without her consent, carrying punishment up to three years for a first offence and up to seven years for subsequent offences, and if such images were then circulated or shared, this triggers additional and severe liability under both this provision and specific provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, including Section 66E (violation of privacy) and Section 67/67A (publishing or transmitting obscene or sexually explicit material electronically).

It's worth understanding that consent is central to all of these provisions, and Indian law is clear that consent must be free, voluntary, and given without coercion, threat, or manipulation — consent obtained through fraud, deception, intoxication, or under duress isn't legally valid consent. If you're a victim of this kind of assault, the appropriate immediate steps are to file an FIR at the nearest police station (these are cognizable offences requiring mandatory registration under Lalita Kumari v. Government of Uttar Pradesh, discussed extensively throughout our conversation), seek immediate medical examination and documentation if physical contact occurred, and preserve any evidence, including any photographs or videos that may have been taken, messages, or witness accounts.

Conclusion: Removal of clothes without consent is unambiguously criminal in India, primarily under Section 76 BNS carrying three to seven years imprisonment, with additional and often more severe liability depending on whether the act involved broader sexual assault, was captured on camera (voyeurism under Section 77 BNS), or was shared electronically (triggering IT Act liability), so filing an FIR promptly and preserving all available evidence is essential to pursuing the strong legal remedies available. You can reach out to the team at Aapka Legal Advice for guidance specific to your situation, and this list of Top Criminal Lawyers in India | Aapka Legal Advice can help you find suitable representation for a matter of this seriousness.