Whoever keeps any person in wrongful confinement, knowing that a writ for the liberation of that person has been duly issued, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years in addition to any term of imprisonment to which he may be liable under any other section of this Chapter.
IPC Simplified Explanation
IPC Section 345 of the Indian Penal Code deals with the offence of “wrongful confinement of a person to extort property or valuable security, or for constraining to an illegal act.” This section applies when an individual wrongfully confines another person intending to extort property or valuable security, compel the victim to commit an illegal act or abstain from doing something they are legally entitled to do.
Key elements of this section include:
- Wrongful Confinement: The person must wrongfully confine another, restricting their freedom to move beyond certain limits.
- Purpose: The confinement must intend to extort valuable property security or to compel the person to perform or abstain from performing an act against their will.
Is IPC Section 345 Bailable?
Yes, IPC Section 345 is a bailable offence. This means that an individual charged under this section can obtain bail from the police station or through the court, depending on the specifics of the case and the authorities’ discretion.
IPC Section 345 Punishment
The punishment under IPC Section 345 for wrongful confinement to extort property or valuable security or for constraining to an illegal act includes:
- Imprisonment for a term that may extend to two years,
- or with a fine,
- Or with both.
The punishment reflects the serious nature of using wrongful confinement to extort or coerce someone.
Example of IPC Section 345
A real-life example of IPC Section 345 involved a case where a group of individuals kidnapped a businessman and confined him in a remote location to force him to sign over property deeds and valuable assets. The businessman was held for several days, during which he was threatened and coerced into complying with the demands. The perpetrators were charged under IPC Section 345 for wrongful confinement with the intent to extort property. This case highlighted how the law addresses the severe misuse of confinement to extort or coerce individuals into surrendering their property or performing illegal acts.
