CrPC Section 506
CrPC Section 506 — Punishment for criminal intimidation
Core idea: Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) deals with criminal intimidation, which means threatening someone with injury, harm, or wrongful action to compel them to do something or prevent them from doing something. (Note: While you asked CrPC, Section 506 is actually in IPC, not CrPC.)
Key points of Section 506 IPC
Definition of criminal intimidation (as per Section 503 IPC):
Threatening someone with injury to their person, reputation, or property.
Threatening someone else (family, friends) to compel the person to act or refrain from acting.
Types of criminal intimidation under Section 506:
| Type | Punishment |
|---|---|
| Ordinary criminal intimidation | Imprisonment up to 2 years, or fine, or both |
| Threat to cause death or grievous hurt, or danger to life, reputation, or property | Imprisonment up to 7 years, or fine, or both |
Intent matters:
The threat must be intentional and capable of putting a person in fear.
Accidental statements or jokes do not count.
Mode of intimidation:
Can be spoken, written, or gestures, including electronic communication.
Includes threats to injure someone’s property or reputation.
Examples
Ordinary intimidation: A threatens B, “If you tell anyone about this, I’ll beat you up.”
Punishable with up to 2 years imprisonment or fine.
Serious intimidation: A threatens B, “I will kill you if you do not hand over your property.”
Punishable with up to 7 years imprisonment or fine.
Important Notes
Fear must be caused: The person threatened should reasonably feel fear of injury or harm.
Threat to property/reputation: Threats don’t have to be physical; damaging reputation or property also qualifies.
Section 506 and IPC Section 503: Section 503 defines criminal intimidation; Section 506 prescribes the punishment.
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