Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) defines criminal intimidation as an offense.
It refers to threatening someone with violence or injury in order to make them fear for their own safety, or the safety of their property or reputation.
Physical, mental, or financial pain or injury may occur. The threat might be made in writing, speech, or by conduct.
Criminal intimidation is a serious offence since it violates an individual’s fundamental right to live with dignity and without fear.
Essential Elements required to Prove Criminal Intimidation under IPC
- Threatening to cause harm: The accused must have threatened to cause harm to the victim or their property, reputation, or body.
- Intentional act: The accused must have intentionally made the threat with the intention of causing alarm or harm to the victim.
- Fear of harm: The victim must have felt fear of harm due to the threat made by the accused.
- Causation of harm: The threat made by the accused must have caused harm or intended to cause harm to the victim.
Punishment of Criminal Intimidation under IPC
- Criminal intimidation is punishable by imprisonment for a term of up to two years, a fine, or both under Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code.
- If criminal intimidation is committed against a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, the punishment can be up to seven years in prison and a fine.
- If the offence of criminal intimidation is done with the intent to force a person to provide property or valuable security or to push them to do anything illegal or harmful to another person, the punishment can be up to seven years in prison and a fine.
