Which one of the following is not an essential ingredient of the offence of theft ?

Under Section 378 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the essential ingredients of theft are: (1) Dishonest intention to take property; (2) The property must be moveable; (3) It must be taken out of the possession of another person; (4) It must be taken without that person's consent; and (5) There must be a moving of the property in order to such taking.

Option C, "Putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt," is not an ingredient of theft. This element is instead a defining characteristic of extortion (Section 383 IPC) or robbery (Section 390 IPC). According to Section 390, theft becomes robbery if the offender, in order to committing the theft, voluntarily causes or attempts to cause death, hurt, or wrongful restraint, or fear of instant death, hurt, or restraint.