Section 327 IPC: Voluntarily causing hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 327 IPC at a Glance

Section 327 IPC deals with voluntarily causing hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act. It is non-bailable and cognizable, triable by the Court of Session; from 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 119(1) BNS.

Punishment

Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Non-Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘNon-Compoundable ⓘ🏛️ Court of Session ⓘ
BNS Equivalent

Section 119(1) →

Section 327 IPC Bare Act Text

327. Voluntarily causing hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act

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.

Source: Section 327, Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 327 IPC in Simple Words

Section 327 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punishes voluntarily causing hurt for the purpose of extorting property or a valuable security, or of constraining a person to do anything which is illegal or which may facilitate the commission of an offence. The property may be extorted from, or the constraint applied to, the sufferer or any person interested in the sufferer.

The punishment is imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and the offender is also liable to fine. The offence is cognizable, non-bailable, and triable by the Court of Session.

Ingredients of Section 327 IPC

  • The accused voluntarily caused hurt to any person
  • The hurt was caused for the purpose of extorting any property or valuable security from the sufferer or from any person interested in the sufferer
  • Or the hurt was caused 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 Under Section 327 IPC

Imprisonment

Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Fine

The offender is also liable to fine in addition to imprisonment.

Non-Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘNon-Compoundable ⓘ🏛️ Court of Session ⓘ

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.

Example of Section 327 IPC

In September 2018, inside an office in Ranchi, Ajay repeatedly slapped and kicked Rohit, causing him bodily pain and bruising on his back. While assaulting him, Ajay demanded that Mohan, the father of Rohit, hand over a signed promissory note and gold ornaments, and also tried to force Rohit to falsify municipal tax records to facilitate an offence. Because Ajay voluntarily caused hurt to Rohit for the purpose of extorting property and valuable security and constraining him to do an illegal act, Ajay is punishable under Section 327 IPC.

When Section 327 IPC Does Not Apply

  • Section 327 IPC does not apply when the accused did not voluntarily cause any bodily hurt to the victim.
  • Section 327 IPC does not apply when the hurt was inflicted without any purpose of extorting property or valuable security from the sufferer or a person interested in the sufferer.
  • Section 327 IPC does not apply when the hurt was not inflicted to constrain the sufferer or an interested person to perform an illegal act or facilitate the commission of an offence.
  • Section 327 IPC does not apply when the injury voluntarily caused for such extortion or constraint amounts to grievous hurt, which is governed by Section 329 IPC.

Section 327 IPC in the BNS

Section 327 IPC is now covered under 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.

View detailed comparison (IPC 327 vs BNS 119(1)) →

FAQs on Section 327 IPC

What offence does Section 327 IPC punish?▼

Section 327 IPC punishes voluntarily causing hurt for the purpose of extorting property or a valuable security, or of constraining the sufferer or an interested person to do an illegal act or facilitate an offence.

What is the punishment prescribed under Section 327 IPC?▼

Section 327 IPC prescribes imprisonment of either description for up to ten years, and the offender is also liable to fine.

Can Section 327 IPC apply if hurt is inflicted on a relative of the property owner?▼

Yes. The hurt may be caused to one person in order to extort property from a person interested in the sufferer, such as a relative, or to constrain that person to do anything illegal.

How does Section 327 IPC differ from Section 329 IPC?▼

Section 327 IPC deals with simple hurt caused for extortion or constraint, whereas Section 329 IPC deals with grievous hurt caused for those purposes and carries a higher punishment extending up to life imprisonment.

Is Section 327 IPC bailable or non-bailable?▼

Under the First Schedule to the CrPC, Section 327 IPC is classified as non-bailable, so bail is not a matter of right.

Is an offence under Section 327 IPC cognizable?▼

Yes, Section 327 IPC is a cognizable offence under the First Schedule to the CrPC.

Which court tries an offence under Section 327 IPC?▼

Under the First Schedule to the CrPC, cases under Section 327 IPC are triable by the Court of Session.

Can an offence under Section 327 IPC be compounded?▼

No, Section 327 IPC is not listed in Section 320 CrPC and cannot be compounded by the parties.

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Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Bare Act Text, Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·