Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Indian Penal Code criminalizes threats made to a person with the intent to cause alarm or to cause them to do an act they are not legally bound to do. This offence is known as criminal intimidation.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Chapter XXII of the IPC is titled "Of Criminal Intimidation, Insult and Annoyance".
- Section 503 defines the offence of "Criminal Intimidation".
- Section 506 provides the punishment for criminal intimidation.
The sections from 503 to 506 cover this offence and its aggravated forms.
- Section 509 deals with words, gestures or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman. Section 510 deals with misconduct in public by a drunken person.
- Sections 319 to 329 deal with offences of causing hurt and grievous hurt.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The offence of criminal intimidation is defined in Section 503 and punished in Section 506 of the IPC. The relevant cluster of sections is 503-506.
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)