Whoever commits the offence of criminal intimidation shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both;
If threat be to cause death or grievous hurt, etc – and if the threat be to cause death or grievous hurt, or to cause the destruction of any property by fire, or to cause an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life, of with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, or to impute unchastity to a woman, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.
IPC Section 506: Simplified Explanation
IPC Section 506 pertains to the offence of “Criminal Intimidation.” This section is a continuation of the principles laid out in Section 503 and deals with threatening another person with an injury to their person, reputation, or property, or to the person or reputation of someone in whom that person is interested, with the intent to cause alarm to that person, or to compel that person to do any act which they are not legally bound to do or to omit to do any act which that person is legally entitled to do.
Is IPC Section 506 bailable?
IPC Section 506 is bailable if the threat is to cause death or grievous hurt, to cause the destruction of any property by fire, or to cause an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term of seven years or upwards. In less severe cases, it is non-bailable. Thus, the bailability depends on the severity of the threat made.
IPC Section 506 Punishment
The punishment for an offence under IPC Section 506 also varies based on the severity of the threat:
- For threats of a severe nature (like causing death or grievous hurt): Imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, with a fine, or with both.
- For other threats: Imprisonment for a term that may extend to two years, with a fine, or with both.
These penalties deter individuals from using threats to coerce or intimidate others.
Example of IPC Section 506
A real-life example of IPC Section 506 could involve a landlord threatening a tenant with severe bodily harm if they do not vacate the property within a short, unreasonable timeframe. Feeling threatened and alarmed by the possibility of grievous harm, the tenant files a police complaint against the landlord. The police charge the landlord under IPC Section 506, particularly if the threat involves severe consequences like grievous harm, making the case non-bailable initially until assessed by a court.
