Section 383Extortion

s. 383

383. Extortion Whoever intentionally puts any person in fear of any injury to that person, or to any other, and thereby dishonestly induces the person so put in [fear to give donation or subscription of any kind or to deliver] to any person any property or valuable security or anything signed or sealed which may be converted into a valuable security, commits "extortion". Illustrations (a) A threatens to publish a defamatory libel concerning Z unless Z gives him money. He thus induces Z to give him money. A has committed extortion. (b) A threatens Z that he will keep Z's child in wrongful confinement unless Z will sign and deliver to A a promissory note binding Z to pay certain money to A. Z signs and delivers the note. A has committed extortion. (c) A threatens to send club-men to plough up Z's field unless Z will sign and deliver to B and bond binding Z under a penalty to deliver certain produce to B, and thereby induces Z to sign and deliver the bond. A has committed extortion. (d) A, by putting Z in fear of grievous hurt, dishonestly induces Z to sign or affix his seal to a blank paper and deliver it to A. Z signs and delivers the paper to A. Here, as the paper so signed may be converted into a valuable security, A has committed extortion.

1. 124. The words “fear to give donation or subscription of any kind or to deliver” were substituted, for the words “fear to deliver” by section 2 of the Penal Code (Amendment) Act, 1991 (Act No. XV of 1991)