Offences of Extortion

This is defined in section 383 of the code which in short lays down that if one puts any person in fear of any injury and induces him to deliver any property or valuable security commits extortion. The punishment for the offence is shown in section 384 of the code which is the same as that for theft.

Main ingredients of the offence are-

(a) intentionally putting a person in fear of injury to himself or another: and
(b) Dishonestly inducing the person so put in fear to deliver to any person any property or valuable security.

The distinction between theft and extortion is

(a) In extortion the consent is obtained and in theft no consent is required,
(b) In extortion both the property movable or immovable may be the subject matter, but in theft only movable property can be stolen,
(c) in extortion the delivery is there by inducing fear while in theft the thief takes away the property without getting delivery from the owners and lastly,
(d) in extortion the overpowering of the will of the will of the owner exists. While in theft the element of force is absent.