Section 308 in THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023 – BNS

Of extortion

Extortion

  1. (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.