Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks for the sections in the Indian Penal Code, 1860 that deal with the offense of criminal intimidation.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The offense of criminal intimidation is covered in Chapter XXII of the IPC, which deals with "Criminal Intimidation, Insult and Annoyance."
- Section 503 of the IPC defines the offense of 'Criminal Intimidation'. It involves threatening another person with injury to their person, reputation, or property, with the intent to cause alarm or to cause that person to do any act which they are not legally bound to do.
- Section 504 deals with intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.
- Section 505 deals with statements conducing to public mischief.
- Section 506 of the IPC prescribes the punishment for criminal intimidation. It provides a general punishment and a higher punishment if the threat is to cause death, grievous hurt, etc.
Therefore, the relevant sections that explain and punish criminal intimidation are primarily 503 and 506. The range given in option (A) correctly covers these key sections.
- Option (B) Section 509 deals with insulting the modesty of a woman.
- Option (C) Sections 319-329 deal with offenses of causing hurt and grievous hurt.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Criminal intimidation is defined in Section 503 and punished under Section 506 of the IPC. The range in option (A) correctly encompasses these provisions.
A glance over all the Sections related to extortion would reveal a clear distinction being carried out between the actual commission of extortion and the process of putting a person in fear for the purpose of committing extortion. Section 383 defines extortion, the punishment therefor is given in Section 384. Sections 386 and 388 provide for an aggravated form of extortion. These sections deal with the actual commission of an act of extortion, whereas Sections 385, 387 and 389 IPC seek to punish for an act committed for the purpose of extortion even though the act of extortion may not be complete and property not delivered. It is in the process of committing an offence that a person is put in fear of injury, death or grievous hurt. Section 387 IPC provides for a stage prior to committing extortion, which is putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt ’in order to commit extortion’, similar to Section 385 IPC. Hence, Section 387 IPC is an aggravated form of 385 IPC, not 384 IPC. Having deliberated upon the offence of extortion and its forms, we proceed to analyze the essentials of both Sections, i.e.,383 and 387 IPC, the High Court dealt with.
(Extracted from Balaji Traders v. State of UP, 2025 INSC 806)