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.
IPC Section 385 in BNS: Section 308
Putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion
Section 385 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion) corresponds to Section 308 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in force from 1 July 2024. Under the BNSS First Schedule, BNS 308(2) is cognizable, non-bailable, triable by Magistrate of the first class; punishment: Imprisonment for 7 years, or fine, or both.
Bail, cognizability and punishment
| Section | Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 308(2) | Extortion. | Imprisonment for 7 years, or fine, or both. | Cognizable | Non-bailable | Magistrate of the first class |
| 308(3) | Putting or attempting to put in fear of injury, in order to commit extortion. | Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both. | Cognizable | Bailable | Any Magistrate |
| 308(4) | Putting or attempting to put a person in fear of death or grievous hurt in order to commit extortion. | Imprisonment for 7 years and fine. | Cognizable | Non-bailable | Magistrate of the first class |
| 308(5) | Extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt. | Imprisonment for 10 years and fine. | Cognizable | Non-bailable | Magistrate of the first class |
| 308(6) | Putting a person in fear of accusation of an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years in order to commit extortion. | Imprisonment for 10 years and fine. | Cognizable | Bailable | Magistrate of the first class |
| 308(7) | Extortion by threat of accusation of an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years. | Imprisonment for 10 years and fine. | Cognizable | Bailable | Magistrate of the first class |
Source: BNSS, 2023, First Schedule, Part I.
The BNS applies to offences committed on or after 1 July 2024. Offences committed earlier are charged and tried under the IPC.
Text of BNS Section 308
Full BNS Section 308 and every IPC section it replaced →
Other IPC sections now in BNS 308
- IPC 383: Extortion → BNS 308
- IPC 384: Punishment for extortion → BNS 308
- IPC 386: Extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt → BNS 308
- IPC 387: Putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion → BNS 308
- IPC 388: Extortion by threat of accusation of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life, etc → BNS 308
- IPC 389: Putting person in fear or accusation of offence, in order to commit extortion → BNS 308
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