Criminal Law Videos - IPC Section 506 (Punishment for Criminal Intimidation)

IPC Section 506 lays down the punishment for the offence of criminal intimidation which is defined under section 503. Section 506 says that whoever commits the offence of criminal intimidation shall be punished with simple or rigorous imprisonment for a term extending up to two years, or with fine, or with both; and if the threat under the offence of criminal intimidation be either to cause death or grievous hurt, or to cause destruction of any property by fire, or to cause an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment for a term extending up to seven years, or to impute unchastity to a woman, shall be punished with simple or rigorous imprisonment for a term extending up to seven years, or with fine, or with both.

Whereas the normal punishment for the offence of criminal intimidation provided under the first part of the section seems neither lenient nor stern, the one under the latter part being an aggravated form of the offence wherein the circumstances in which that part would be applicable have been clearly stated, has been visited with a sterner penalty. Entering a house at midnight armed with a knife and threatening with death anyone who dared to come between the accused and the victim has been held to be punishable under this section.

The offence under this section is non-cognizable, bailable and compoundable, and is triable by any magistrate. If the threat be to cause death or grievous hurt etc. as stated under the second part of the section, the offence is non-compoundable and triable by magistrate of the first class.