Criminal intimidation

What this section does

Criminal intimidation consists of threatening another person—by any means—with injury to their person, reputation, or property (or that of someone they care about), with intent to cause alarm or to compel them to do or omit something they are legally free to choose. The offence carries graduated punishment depending on the gravity of the threat and whether the threat was made anonymously. A threat against the reputation of a deceased person in whom the threatened party is interested is expressly included.

AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).

Quick reference

Punishment

Basic offence (s.351(2)): imprisonment of either description up to 2 years, or fine, or both. Aggravated form—threat of death, grievous hurt, destruction by fire, offence punishable with death/life/7 years, or imputing unchastity to a woman (s.351(3)): imprisonment of either description up to 7 years, or fine, or both. Anonymous/concealed-identity threat (s.351(4)): additional imprisonment up to 2 years on top of the punishment under s.351(2).

Triable by

Magistrate of First Class

Cognizable

Depends

Bailable

Depends

Compoundable

Depends

Ingredients (what prosecution must prove)

1. The accused threatened another person by any means
2. The threat related to injury to person, reputation, or property of the victim or someone in whom the victim is interested
3. The accused intended to cause alarm to that person, OR to compel that person to do an act not legally required, OR to omit an act legally permitted
4. The threat was communicated (including anonymously or with concealment of identity, for the aggravated form)

• IPC Section 503 — Criminal intimidation (definition)
• IPC Section 506 — Punishment for criminal intimidation