Sections 383 to 388

THE INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860

CONTENTS

CHAPTER XVII

OF OFFENCES AGAINST PROPERTY

2

OF EXTORTION

383. Extortion

384. Punishment
for extortion

385. Putting
person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion

386. Extortion
by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt to

387. Putting
person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion

388. Extortion
by threat of accusation of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for
life, etc.

CHAPTER XVII

OF OFFENCES AGAINST PROPERTY

2

OF EXTORTION

383. Extortion.
—Whoever intentionally puts any person in fear of any injury to that
person, or to any other, and thereby dishonestly induces the person so put in
fear to deliver to any property or valuable security, or anything signed or
sealed which may be converted into a valuable security, commits “extortion”.

Illustrations

(a) A threatens to publish a defamatory libel
concerning Z unless Z give him money. He thus induces Z to give him money. A
has committed extortion.

(b) A threatens Z that he will keep Z’s child
in wrongful confinement, unless Z will sign and deliver to A promissory note
binding Z to pay certain monies to A. Z signs and delivers the note. A has
committed extortion.

(c) A threatens to send club-men to plough up
Z’s field unless Z will sign and deliver to B bond binding Z under a penalty to
deliver certain produce to B, and thereby induces Z to sing and deliver the
bond. A has committed extortion.

(d) A, by putting Z in fear of grievous hurt,
dishonestly induces Z to sign or affix his seal to a blank paper and deliver it
to A. Z signs and delivers the paper to A. Here, as the paper so signed may be
converted into a valuable security. A has committed extortion.

384. Punishment
for extortion. —Whoever commits extortion shall be punished with
imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years,
or with fine or with both.

385. Putting
person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion. —Whoever, in
order to the committing of extortion, puts any person in fear, or attempts to
put any person in fear, of any injury, shall be punished with imprisonment of
either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or
with both.

386. Extortion
by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt to. —Whoever
commits extortion by putting any person in fear of death or of grievous hurt o
that person or to any other, shall be punished with imprisonment of either
description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable
to fine.

387. Putting
person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion. —Whoever,
in order to the committing of extortion, puts or attempts to put any person in
fear of death or of grievous hurt to that person or to any other, shall be
punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to
seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

388. Extortion
by threat of accusation of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for
life, etc.—Whoever commits extortion by putting any person in fear
of an accusation against that person or any other, of having committed or
attempted to commit any offence punished with death, or with ¹[imprisonment for life], or with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or of having attempted to
induce any other person to commit such offence, shall be punished with
imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and
shall also be liable to fine; and, if the offence be one punished under section
377 of this Code, may be punished with ¹[imprisonment
for life].

1. Subs. by Act
26 of 1955, sec.117 and sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f.1-1-1956).

Posted in: Sections 383 to 388