Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
308. (1) 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 person 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
gives 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 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 a bond binding Z under a penalty to deliver certain
produce to B, and thereby induces Z to sign 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.
(e) A threatens Z by sending a message through an electronic device
that “Your child is in my possession, and will be put to death unless you
send me one lakh rupees.” A thus induces Z to give him money. A has
committed extortion.
(2) Whoever commits extortion shall be punished with imprisonment
of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with
fine, or with both.
(3) 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.
(4) 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.
(5) Whoever commits extortion by putting 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 ten
years, and shall also be liable to fine.
(6) Whoever, in order to the committing of extortion, puts or
attempts to put any person in fear of an accusation, against that person or
any other, of having committed, or attempted to commit, an offence
punishable with death or with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment
for a term which may extend to ten years, shall be punished with
imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten
years, and shall also be liable to fine.
(7) 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 punishable with death, or with
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.
Of robbery and dacoity
Robbery.