Pakistan Penal Code 1860 · Chapter XVII
PPC Section 383: Extortion
Section 383 PPC defines extortion. A person commits extortion when he intentionally puts someone in fear of injury and thereby dishonestly induces that person to deliver property, a valuable security, or a signed or sealed document that can be turned into a valuable security.
Text of Section 383 PPC
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 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 a 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.
Ingredients of the Offence under Section 383 PPC
- Intentionally putting a person in fear of injury to himself or another
- Dishonestly inducing that person through the fear
- Delivery of property, a valuable security or a signed or sealed document
Punishment under Section 383 PPC
Section 383 only defines extortion. Punishment is in Section 384, with aggravated forms in Sections 385 to 389.
FAQs on Section 383 PPC
Is a threat to publish defamatory material extortion under Section 383 PPC?
Yes. Illustration (a) treats a threat to publish a defamatory libel unless money is paid as extortion once the money is handed over.
What is the difference between theft and extortion?
In theft property is taken without consent. In extortion the victim hands it over, but only because of the fear created by the offender.
Related Sections of the Pakistan Penal Code
- Section 381: Theft by clerk or servant or property in possession of master
- Section 381-A: Theft of a car or other motor vehicles
- Section 382: Theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to the committing of the theft
- Section 384: Punishment for extortion
- Section 385: Putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion
- Section 386: Extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt
Facing a case under Section 383 PPC?
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