Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 384
repealedPunishment for extortion
Whoever commits extortion shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
Why this exists
This section provides the basic punishment for the general offence of extortion defined in the earlier section, allowing courts to tailor the sentence, whether imprisonment, a fine, or both, to the seriousness of the case. More severe punishments apply under later sections when extortion involves threats of death, grievous hurt, or serious accusations. This general punishment provision continues in a similar form under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which replaced the Indian Penal Code in 2024.