IPC Section 503

BNS Section 351— Criminal intimidation

Effective for any FIR, charge sheet, or filing on or after 1 July 2024. Matters that arose before that date continue under the IPC.

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.

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