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Section history

Section 388 — Extortion by threat of accusation of an offence punishable with death, or imprisonment, etc.

As in force on 30 November 2008.

Timeline 4 versions
  1. 30 March 1987 Enacted
  2. 1 February 2008 Act 51 of 2007
  3. 30 November 2008 Revised edition
  4. 17 August 2026 Latest
Revised edition in force 30 November 2008

The text below is this provision as reproduced in the Revised Edition that came into force on this date. A revised edition consolidates the law without changing its substance, so editorial amendments — such as renumbering, updated citations and formatting — may have been made but are not shown as a redline.

388.Extortion by threat of accusation of an offence punishable with death, or imprisonment, etc.

Whoever commits extortion by putting any person in fear of an accusation against that person or any other, of having committed, or attempted to commit, an offence punishable with death, or with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years, or of having attempted to induce any other person to commit such offence, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine or to caning.

[Indian PC 1860, s. 388]