Under the Indian Penal Code, 1860, which one of the following statements about "Theft" is correct ?

Under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, "Theft" is defined in Section 378, while Section 379 prescribes the punishment for it. Therefore, statement A is incorrect. According to the definition in Section 378, the essential ingredients of theft are:

• Dishonest intention to take property.
• The property must be movable; immovable property cannot be the subject of theft until it is severed from the earth. Thus, statement B is incorrect.
• The property must be taken out of the possession of another person. Thus, statement D is correct.
• The taking must be without that person's consent.
• The perpetrator must move the property in order to such taking.

In theft, the offender takes the property without consent; delivery of property by the victim (which occurs in cases like extortion or cheating) is not an element. Thus, statement C is incorrect.