Whoever commits extortion shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
IPC Section 384: Simplified Explanation
IPC Section 384 specifies the punishment for the offence of extortion as defined in Section 383. Extortion involves putting someone in fear of injury to themselves or someone else to dishonestly induce them to deliver property, valuable security, or anything that can be converted into valuable security. This section details the legal consequences for anyone guilty of such coercive behaviour.
Is IPC Section 384 bailable?
IPC Section 384 is bailable. Despite the seriousness of the offence, the law allows the accused to be released on bail due to the variability in the nature and severity of individual extortion cases.
IPC Section 384 Punishment
The punishment for the offence of extortion under IPC Section 384 is imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with a fine, or with both. The court considers factors such as the severity of the threat, the amount involved, and the impact on the victim when deciding the exact nature of the punishment.
Example of IPC Section 384
A real-life example of IPC Section 384 occurred when a local shopkeeper was approached by a group demanding “protection money” to avoid harm to his business and family. The shopkeeper was threatened with vandalism and physical harm if he did not comply with the monthly payments. Feeling threatened, he paid the initial amount but then contacted the police. The authorities conducted a sting operation and caught the culprits in the act of receiving the money. The accused were charged under IPC Section 384. In court, they were each sentenced to two years in prison and were fined, reflecting their attempts to exploit and intimidate the shopkeeper.
