Criminal Intimidation Under the BNS (Section 351): IPC 506 Mapping (2026)
What criminal intimidation means under Section 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, how it maps to Sections 503 and 506 of the old IPC, and the punishment. Last verified October 2026.
Explainer · Criminal Law · BNS
Criminal intimidation is an offence under Section 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS). It punishes a threat made to cause alarm or to force a person to act against his will. It carries forward Section 503 of the old IPC (the definition) and Section 506 (the punishment). The basic punishment is imprisonment of up to two years, or fine, or both. Last verified October 2026.
- What it is: criminal intimidation, a threat of injury made to cause alarm or to force a person to act, under BNS Section 351.
- Old law: IPC Section 503 (definition), Section 506 (punishment) and Section 507 (anonymous threat).
- Punishment: basic offence up to two years and/or fine; up to seven years for threats of death, grievous hurt or imputing unchastity; up to two years more for an anonymous threat.
- Classification: non-cognizable (unless a state has made it cognizable) and bailable.
01The problem this section answers
A threat can control a person as surely as force. "Pay me or I will burn your shop." "Withdraw the complaint or I will harm your family." "Sign this or I will ruin your name." The threat need not be carried out to cause real harm, because fear alone can push a person into doing, or not doing, something.
Criminal intimidation is the law’s answer to that pressure. It makes the threat itself an offence, when it is made with the intent to alarm or to bend the other person’s will.
02What BNS Section 351 covers
Section 351 of the BNS defines and punishes criminal intimidation. Section 351(1) sets the meaning. A person commits criminal intimidation when he threatens another with injury to:
- his person, reputation or property; or
- the person or reputation of anyone in whom that person is interested,
with intent to cause alarm to him, or to make him do any act he is not legally bound to do, or to make him omit any act he is legally entitled to do, as the means of avoiding the threat.
The threat must be real and intended
A vague or idle remark made in anger is not always criminal intimidation. The prosecution must show a threat of injury and the intent to cause alarm or to force a choice. The nature of the words, the setting, and the effect on the victim all matter.
Section 351 then grades the punishment. Section 351(2) is the basic offence. Section 351(3) covers aggravated threats, such as a threat to cause death or grievous hurt, to destroy property by fire, to commit an offence punishable with death or life imprisonment, or to impute unchastity to a woman. Section 351(4) covers a threat made by anonymous communication or while concealing one’s identity.
03IPC 503 and 506 to BNS 351 mapping
The old Indian Penal Code set out this offence across three sections. The BNS gathers them into Section 351.
| Old law (IPC, 1860) | New law (BNS, 2023) | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Section 503 | Section 351(1) | Defines criminal intimidation |
| Section 506 (first part) | Section 351(2) | Punishment, basic offence |
| Section 506 (second part) | Section 351(3) | Punishment, aggravated threats |
| Section 507 | Section 351(4) | Threat by anonymous communication |
So the search term "section 506 IPC in BNS" points to Section 351. For the full renumbering, see our IPC to BNS section mapping. A threat used to extract money may also raise extortion under BNS Section 308.
04Punishment, cognizable and bailable
The punishment depends on the kind of threat.
| Offence | Section | Maximum punishment |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal intimidation (basic) | 351(2) | Up to 2 years, or fine, or both |
| Aggravated threat (death, grievous hurt, fire, serious offence, imputing unchastity) | 351(3) | Up to 7 years, or fine, or both |
| Threat by anonymous communication | 351(4) | Up to 2 years, in addition to the punishment above |
- Cognizable or not: treated as non-cognizable under the central classification, so the police generally need a magistrate’s order to investigate. Several states have amended this to make it cognizable, so check the local position.
- Bailable or not: bailable.
- Triable by: the basic offence by any Magistrate; the aggravated and anonymous forms by a Magistrate of the first class.
05What changed from the old law
The definition and the sentences are carried over from the old IPC with little change. Old IPC Section 503 defined criminal intimidation, Section 506 set the punishment in two parts, and Section 507 dealt with anonymous threats. The BNS keeps the same structure as Section 351(1) to (4).
Criminal intimidation under the BNS is the same threat offence as before, now gathered into Section 351, with the two year basic sentence and the seven year aggravated sentence kept intact.
A case for a threat made before 1 July 2024 continues under the IPC, while a complaint for a threat on or after that date uses BNS Section 351. Because the classification can be changed by state amendment, confirm whether the offence is cognizable where the case is being filed.
06Where Claw fits
Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
Criminal intimidation is one of the most commonly added sections in first information reports, and it is litigated at every level from the Magistrate to the High Court on quashing and bail. Claw lets you search and track cases, orders and judgments by section, party or advocate across 9,102 courts, benches and forums, with 30 crore+ judgments and results in under 5 seconds. You can follow a live matter and get cause lists and WhatsApp and email alerts before each hearing. To search this offence across the court system, start with case search across Indian courts.
Create a FREE Claw account to search and track cases under this section by party or advocate name. Claw does not use customer case documents to train AI models.
07Sources and further reading
- India Code (official text of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023): indiacode.nic.in
- Ministry of Home Affairs (new criminal laws): mha.gov.in
- Bare text of BNS Section 351: devgan.in
- Claw: clawlaw.in
This explainer is general information, not legal advice. The new criminal laws are still being read by the courts, so check the current text and take advice from counsel on your own facts.
08Frequently asked questions
What is Section 351 of the BNS?
Section 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 is the offence of criminal intimidation. It punishes a person who threatens another with injury to his person, reputation or property, with intent to cause alarm or to force him to act against his will.
Which IPC section is now BNS Section 351?
BNS Section 351 replaces Sections 503, 506 and 507 of the Indian Penal Code. Section 503 defined criminal intimidation, Section 506 set the punishment, and Section 507 dealt with anonymous threats.
What is the punishment for criminal intimidation under the BNS?
The basic offence under Section 351(2) is punishable with imprisonment up to two years, or fine, or both. Aggravated threats, such as a threat to cause death or grievous hurt, can reach seven years, and an anonymous threat adds up to two years more.
Is criminal intimidation cognizable or bailable?
Under the central classification it is treated as non-cognizable and bailable, but several states have amended it to make it cognizable. Check the position in the state where the case is filed and the current First Schedule of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
Is a threat to extort money criminal intimidation or extortion?
It can be both, depending on the facts. A threat made only to cause alarm is criminal intimidation under Section 351. A threat used dishonestly to make a person deliver property is extortion under Section 308 of the BNS.
Can I find criminal intimidation cases in Claw?
Yes. Claw lets you search and track cases, orders and judgments by section, party or advocate across 9,102 courts, benches and forums, with 30 crore+ judgments and results in under 5 seconds. It helps you research and follow matters, but it does not give legal advice.