Section 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023
Here’s a detailed overview of Section 351 – Criminal Intimidation under Chapter XIX of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023:
📜 Section 351: Criminal Intimidation
(1) Offence Definition
Whoever, by any means, threatens another person (or someone in whom that person is interested) with injury to their person, reputation, or property, or to the person or reputation of another they care about, with the intention to:
Frighten the person,
Or compel them to do something they’re not legally bound to do,
Or to prevent them from doing what they legally can do,
—commits criminal intimidation. This also includes threats to harm the reputation of a deceased person if the target is emotionally connected to them (testbook.com).
(2) Basic Penalty
Imprisonment: Up to 2 years (simple or rigorous),
Fine, or
Both (testbook.com).
(3) Aggravated Offence
If the threat involves:
Causing death or grievous hurt,
Causing destruction of property by fire,
An offence punishable by death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment ≥ 7 years,
Or imputing unchastity to a woman,
then the punishment increases to:
Up to 7 years imprisonment,
Fine, or
Both (testbook.com).
(4) Anonymous Threats
If the threat is made anonymously or with efforts to conceal the sender’s identity, an additional 2 years’ imprisonment can be added over the base punishment (testbook.com).
⚖️ Key Features
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Offence | Criminal intimidation via threats against person, reputation, or property |
| Intent | To alarm or coerce action/inaction |
| Basic Punishment | ≤ 2 years imprisonment and/or fine |
| Aggravated Cases | ≤ 7 years for threats of death, grievous hurt, arson, life-offence threats |
| Anonymous Threats | Additional 2-year penalty |
| Cognizability | Police can arrest without a warrant |
| Bailable | No — it's non-bailable |
| Triable by | Court of Sessions, given severity |
🔍 Practical Impact
Protects individuals (and their deceased loved ones’ reputations) from coercion.
Addresses serious threats, including those invoking violence, arson, or life-offence intimidation.
Adds strong deterrence against anonymous threats, enhancing accountability.
📘 Illustration (from Testbook guide)
A threatens to burn B’s house to pressure B into withdrawing a civil suit—this constitutes criminal intimidation under Section 351(1).
Would you like a side-by-side comparison with the IPC’s former intimidation provisions, or examples of court judgments interpreting this section? I’d be happy to help further.
RELATED Blog
0 comments