Section 331 IPC: Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort confession, or to compel restoration of property

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 331 IPC at a Glance

Section 331 IPC deals with voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort confession, or to compel restoration of property. It is non-bailable and cognizable, triable by the Court of Session; from 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 120(2) 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 120(2) →

Section 331 IPC Bare Act Text

331. Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort confession, or to compel restoration of property

Whoever voluntarily causes grievous hurt for the purpose of extorting from the sufferer or from any person interested in the sufferer any confession or any information which may lead to the detection of an offence or misconduct, or for the purpose of constraining the sufferer or any person interested in the sufferer to restore or to cause the restoration of any property or valuable security, or to satisfy any claim or demand or to give information which may lead to the restoration of any property or valuable security, 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 331, Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 331 IPC in Simple Words

Section 331 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punishes voluntarily causing grievous hurt for the purpose of extorting any confession or information which may lead to the detection of an offence or misconduct, or for the purpose of constraining a person to restore property or valuable security, satisfy any claim or demand, or give information leading to restoration. The confession or information 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 331 IPC

  • The accused voluntarily caused grievous hurt to any person
  • The grievous hurt was caused for the purpose of extorting from the sufferer, or from any person interested in the sufferer, any confession or any information which may lead to the detection of an offence or misconduct
  • Or the grievous hurt was caused for the purpose of constraining the sufferer or any person interested in the sufferer to restore or to cause the restoration of any property or valuable security, or to satisfy any claim or demand, or to give information which may lead to the restoration of any property or valuable security

Punishment Under Section 331 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 grievous hurt to extort a confession or to compel restoration of property 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 331 IPC

In 2021, at a farmhouse in Ludhiana, landowner Balwinder accused his farmhand Gurpreet of taking a signed promissory note and hiding it. To compel Gurpreet to confess to the theft and return the valuable security, Balwinder struck Gurpreet across the face with a heavy brass pipe, fracturing his jawbone and knocking out two teeth. These injuries amounted to grievous hurt. Balwinder voluntarily caused grievous hurt to Gurpreet for the purpose of extorting a confession and constraining the restoration of a valuable security. Balwinder is punishable under Section 331 IPC.

When Section 331 IPC Does Not Apply

  • The injury inflicted is only simple hurt and does not amount to grievous hurt.
  • The grievous hurt happens accidentally without the offender intending or knowing himself likely to cause it.
  • The grievous hurt is inflicted during a sudden quarrel without any purpose of extracting a confession or information about an offence or misconduct.
  • The offender does not seek to compel the restoration of property or valuable security, satisfy a claim or demand, or obtain information leading to such restoration.

Section 331 IPC in the BNS

Section 331 IPC is now covered under Section 120(2) BNS.

Section 331 IPC is succeeded by Section 120(2) BNS. Section 120(2) BNS consolidates offences of causing hurt to extort confessions, assigning grievous hurt to sub-section 2. Rather than repeating the full list of extortion and restoration purposes, Section 120(2) BNS incorporates them by referring to any purpose referred to in sub-section 1. The substantive elements and the punishment of imprisonment of either description up to ten years and liability to fine remain unchanged.

View detailed comparison (IPC 331 vs BNS 120(2)) →

FAQs on Section 331 IPC

What offence does Section 331 IPC punish?▼

Section 331 IPC punishes voluntarily causing grievous hurt for the purpose of extorting a confession or information leading to detection of an offence or misconduct, or constraining the restoration of property, satisfaction of a claim, or giving information leading to restoration.

What is the punishment prescribed under Section 331 IPC?▼

Section 331 IPC prescribes imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and the offender is also liable to fine.

Is Section 331 IPC bailable or non-bailable?▼

Under the First Schedule to the CrPC, Section 331 IPC is non-bailable, meaning bail cannot be claimed as a matter of right.

Is an offence under Section 331 IPC cognizable?▼

Yes, Section 331 IPC is a cognizable offence under the First Schedule to the CrPC.

Which court tries an offence under Section 331 IPC?▼

Under the First Schedule to the CrPC, cases under Section 331 IPC are triable by the Court of Session.

Can an offence under Section 331 IPC be compounded?▼

No, Section 331 IPC is not listed in Section 320 CrPC and cannot be compounded by the parties.

How does Section 331 IPC differ from Section 330 IPC?▼

Section 330 IPC deals with simple hurt caused for extortion or restoration, which is bailable and triable by a Magistrate of the first class, whereas Section 331 IPC punishes grievous hurt, which is non-bailable and triable by the Court of Session.

Where is Section 331 IPC located in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?▼

Section 331 IPC is codified in Section 120(2) BNS.

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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 ·