Indian Criminal Law | Updated October 2026
IPC Section 506: Punishment for Criminal Intimidation under BNS Section 351
Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 prescribed punishment for criminal intimidation. For offences governed by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the corresponding punishment is found in Section 351(2) and Section 351(3).
Ordinary intimidation: Imprisonment up to 2 years, or fine, or both.
Aggravated intimidation: Imprisonment up to 7 years, or fine, or both.
Commencement: The BNS came into force on 1 July 2024. Earlier offences must be considered under applicable savings and transitional provisions.
Text and meaning of IPC Section 506
Ordinary criminal intimidation: 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.
Threat to cause death or grievous hurt, etc.: If the threat is to cause death or grievous hurt, to cause destruction of property by fire, to cause an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life, or imprisonment which may extend to seven years, or to impute unchastity to a woman, the punishment may extend to seven years' imprisonment, or fine, or both.
This retains the substance of the original statutory provision while presenting the two punishment categories separately.
What is criminal intimidation?
Under former IPC Section 503, criminal intimidation means threatening another person with injury to their person, reputation or property, or to the person or reputation of someone in whom they are interested, with the intention to cause alarm or compel them to do something they are not legally bound to do or refrain from something they are legally entitled to do. BNS Section 351(1) provides the corresponding definition.
A threat may concern the reputation of a deceased person in whom the threatened person is interested. The intention and context of the communication are important; mere abusive language or an ordinary disagreement does not automatically establish criminal intimidation.
BNS Section 351: Current legal provisions
| Provision | Subject | Punishment |
|---|---|---|
| IPC 503 / BNS 351(1) | Definition of criminal intimidation | Definition; punishment in succeeding subsections |
| IPC 506 (first part) / BNS 351(2) | Ordinary criminal intimidation | Up to 2 years, or fine, or both |
| IPC 506 (second part) / BNS 351(3) | Specified serious threats | Up to 7 years, or fine, or both |
| IPC 507 / BNS 351(4) | Intimidation through anonymous communication or concealment of identity | Additional imprisonment up to 2 years |
Essential ingredients of the offence
- There must be a threat of injury to person, reputation or property, or a relevant person or reputation protected by the definition.
- The threat must be made with intent to cause alarm or to coerce an act or omission of the kind specified by law.
- The circumstances and words or conduct must be assessed in context; proof of the requisite intention matters.
- For the enhanced punishment, the prosecution must establish a threat of one of the aggravated kinds expressly listed in the provision.
Practical illustrations
Example 1: A threatens to damage B's property to force B to withdraw a lawful complaint. If the statutory intention and other ingredients are proved, ordinary criminal intimidation may arise.
Example 2: A threatens to kill B unless B pays money. The death threat may attract BNS Section 351(3), while other offences may also require examination.
Example 3: A sends an anonymous message threatening serious harm. BNS Section 351(4) may apply in addition to the applicable intimidation punishment.
Complaint, investigation and bail
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) governs procedure for offences under the new criminal laws. Cognizability, bailability and the competent court should be checked against the BNSS First Schedule for the precise subsection and any applicable state amendment or special notification. These procedural classifications should not be assumed to be identical for every form of threat or every jurisdiction.
A complainant should preserve messages, call records, screenshots, witness details and other lawfully obtained evidence. If electronic records are relied upon, the applicable evidentiary requirements under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 should be considered. A police complaint should clearly describe the threat, date, method, circumstances and intended coercion or alarm.
Related provisions and legal resources
Read IPC Section 503: Definition of criminal intimidation, IPC Section 507: Anonymous intimidation, and IPC Section 504: Intentional insult. For complaint procedures see how to register a police complaint and options when police decline to register an FIR.
Case laws and judicial interpretation
Whether particular words amount to criminal intimidation depends on the threat, intention, context and evidence. Courts distinguish an actual threat made with the required intent from mere angry words or general abuse. The original page included a case-law heading but did not supply specific judgments; no unverified citations have been inserted here. For reported judgments, consult the Supreme Court of India or the relevant High Court's official judgment database.
Frequently asked questions
What is the punishment under IPC Section 506?
Ordinary criminal intimidation was punishable by imprisonment up to two years, or fine, or both. The specified aggravated threats carried imprisonment up to seven years, or fine, or both.
Which BNS section replaces IPC Section 506?
BNS Section 351(2) corresponds to the ordinary punishment and Section 351(3) to the aggravated punishment. Section 351(1) defines the offence.
Does every threatening or abusive message amount to criminal intimidation?
No. The statutory ingredients, including the requisite intent to cause alarm or compel conduct, must be assessed on the facts.
What if the threat is anonymous?
BNS Section 351(4) provides an additional punishment where intimidation is committed through anonymous communication or concealment of the sender's name or abode.
Official legal references
- India Code: consult the official texts of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Section 351), Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Sections 503, 506 and 507), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (First Schedule) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023.
- Ministry of Home Affairs: notifications and official information on the criminal-law transition.
This article provides general legal information. Verify the statutory text, applicable state amendments and current case law for a particular matter.