Section 119 BNS: Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 119 BNS at a Glance
Section 119 BNS deals with voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act. It is non-bailable and cognizable; it replaced Sections 327 and 329 IPC on 1 July 2024.
Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Section 119 BNS Bare Act Text
(1) Whoever voluntarily causes hurt for the purpose of extorting from the sufferer, or from any person interested in the sufferer, any property or valuable security, or of constraining the sufferer or any person interested in such sufferer to do anything which is illegal or which may facilitate the commission of an offence, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
(2) Whoever voluntarily causes grievous hurt for any purpose referred to in sub-section (1), shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Source: Section 119, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 119 BNS in the IPC (Previous Law)
FAQs on Section 119 BNS
What is the difference between Section 119(1) BNS and simple hurt offences?▼
Simple hurt provisions punish the act of causing bodily pain or injury. Section 119(1) BNS is graver because the hurt is caused for a specific purpose, usually to extort property or force an unlawful act. The motive and pressure element make it a stronger offence.
Under Section 119(1) BNS, does the prosecution have to prove that property was actually handed over?▼
No. The offence can be made out even if the victim did not give the property or comply. What matters is that hurt was voluntarily caused with the intention of extorting property or compelling an act.
Is the offence under Section 119(1) BNS bailable?▼
No, it is generally treated as a non-bailable offence. Since it involves violence and extortionary intent, police and courts view it seriously at the stage of arrest and bail.
How is Section 119(1) BNS used in real cases?▼
It is often applied in assault cases linked to money recovery, land disputes, forced signatures, or threats backed by violence. Police may add this section when the facts show that hurt was used as a means of pressure, not as an isolated assault.
What is the main difference between Section 119(2) BNS and ordinary extortion?▼
Ordinary extortion may involve threats alone. Here, the accused actually causes grievous hurt, or serious bodily injury, to pressure the victim. That makes the offence much more serious.
Under Section 119(2) BNS, does the property have to actually be handed over?▼
No. The offence can be made out even if the victim does not part with property. What matters is the intent to extort and the causing of grievous hurt for that purpose.
Is the offence under Section 119(2) BNS bailable?▼
No. It is treated as a non-bailable offence. Police can also investigate it as a cognizable offence.
Can Section 119(2) BNS apply if the injury was accidental?▼
Usually no. The prosecution must show that the hurt was caused voluntarily and with the aim of extorting property or a valuable security. Accidental injury will not satisfy the legal requirement.
Section 119 BNS: Sub-sections Explained
Section 119(1) BNS: Voluntarily causing hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act
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Bare Act Text
(1) Whoever voluntarily causes hurt for the purpose of extorting from the sufferer, or from any person interested in the sufferer, any property or valuable security, or of constraining the sufferer or any person interested in such sufferer to do anything which is illegal or which may facilitate the commission of an offence, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explained in Simple Words
Section 119(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) deals with causing hurt in order to obtain property, extort a valuable security, or force someone to do an illegal act that may help the offender. In simple terms, this section applies where a person is not just threatening, but actually causing physical hurt to pressure the victim into giving money, property, documents, or some other benefit. The hurt must be linked to the purpose of extortion or unlawful gain.
This provision is used when violence is used as a tool of coercion. It can apply to a wide range of situations, such as assaulting a person to make them hand over cash, sign papers, transfer assets, or drop a claim. The law treats this seriously because the offence combines bodily harm with dishonest pressure.
For victims, it gives a stronger basis to report both the violence and the extortion attempt. For accused persons, the prosecution must show a clear link between the hurt caused and the demand for property or advantage.
Key Ingredients
- Voluntarily causing hurt to any person
- For the purpose of extorting any property or valuable security from the sufferer or from any person interested in the sufferer
- Or for the purpose of constraining the sufferer or any person interested in the sufferer to do anything which is illegal or which may facilitate the commission of an offence
Punishment
🔒 Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
💰 The offender is also liable to fine in addition to imprisonment.
Voluntarily causing hurt to extort property or to constrain to an illegal act carries imprisonment of either description for up to ten years, and liability to fine. The offence is cognizable, non-bailable, triable by the Court of Session, and not compoundable.
Real-World Example
When This Does Not Apply
- The accused did not voluntarily cause hurt to any person
- The hurt was not caused for the purpose of extorting property or valuable security from the sufferer or from any person interested in the sufferer
- The hurt was not caused for the purpose of constraining the sufferer or any person interested in the sufferer to do anything illegal or to facilitate the commission of an offence
Previous Law
IPC 327 → Section 119(1) BNS
Section 327 IPC is succeeded by Section 119(1) BNS. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita consolidates hurt and grievous hurt to extort property into Section 119(1) BNS, assigning hurt to sub-section 1 and grievous hurt to sub-section 2. The statutory elements, the scope of extortion or constraint, and the punishment of imprisonment of either description up to ten years and liability to fine remain unchanged in Section 119(1) BNS.
Section 119(2) BNS: Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act
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Bare Act Text
(2) Whoever voluntarily causes grievous hurt for any purpose referred to in sub-section (1), shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explained in Simple Words
Section 119 BNS of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) deals with causing grievous hurt in order to force a person to part with property, or to do something that can lead to the delivery of property or a valuable security. In simple terms, the law targets violence used as a tool for extortion. The hurt must be grievous, and it must be caused with the specific aim of getting property, money, signatures, documents, or any other valuable thing. This section applies where the accused intentionally uses serious injury, or causes such injury through others, to pressure the victim.
The focus is not just on the injury itself, but on the purpose behind it. In practice, this provision is serious because it combines violent conduct with extortion. It is often invoked in cases involving coercion, threats backed by actual harm, and attempts to force repayment, transfer of assets, or execution of documents under fear.
Key Ingredients
- Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to any person
- For any purpose referred to in Section 119(1) BNS, namely extorting property or valuable security, or constraining a person to do anything illegal or facilitate an offence
Punishment
🔒 Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
💰 The offender is also liable to fine in addition to imprisonment.
Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort property or to constrain to an illegal act carries imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description up to ten years, and liability to fine. The offence is cognizable, non-bailable, triable by the Court of Session, and not compoundable.
Real-World Example
When This Does Not Apply
- The accused did not voluntarily cause grievous hurt
- The grievous hurt was not caused for the purpose of extorting property or valuable security from the sufferer or any person interested in the sufferer
- The grievous hurt was not caused for the purpose of constraining the sufferer or any person interested in the sufferer to do anything that is illegal or which may facilitate the commission of an offence
Previous Law
IPC 329 → Section 119(2) BNS
Section 329 IPC is succeeded by Section 119(2) BNS. Section 119(2) BNS consolidates offences of causing hurt to extort property, placing grievous hurt in sub-section 2. Rather than reciting the extortion and constraint limbs at length, Section 119(2) BNS incorporates them by referring to any purpose referred to in sub-section 1. The punishment remains unchanged, providing for imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for up to ten years, and liability to fine.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·