Section 347 IPC: Wrongful confinement to extort property, or constrain to illegal act
Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 347 IPC at a Glance
Section 347 IPC deals with wrongful confinement to extort property, or constrain to illegal act. It is bailable and cognizable, triable by any Magistrate; from 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 127(7) BNS.
Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years.
Section 347 IPC Bare Act Text
347. Wrongful confinement to extort property, or constrain to illegal act
Whoever wrongfully confines any person for the purpose of extorting from the person confined, or from any person interested in the person confined, any property or valuable security or of constraining the person confined or any person interested in such person to do anything illegal or to give any information which may facilitate the commission of an offence, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Source: Section 347, Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 347 IPC in Simple Words
Section 347 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punishes wrongful confinement committed for the purpose of extorting property or constraining a person to an illegal act. It applies when the offender wrongfully confines any person to extort property or valuable security from the confined person or anyone interested in that person, or to constrain the person confined or any person interested in that person to do anything illegal or to give any information which may facilitate the commission of an offence.
The punishment is imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and the offender is also liable to fine. The offence is cognizable, bailable, triable by any Magistrate, and is not compoundable under Section 320 CrPC.
Ingredients of Section 347 IPC
- The accused wrongfully confined any person within the meaning of Section 340 IPC
- The confinement was for the purpose of extorting property or valuable security, or of constraining a person to do anything illegal or to give any information which may facilitate the commission of an offence
- The extortion or constraint was directed against the person confined or any person interested in that person
Punishment Under Section 347 IPC
Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years.
The offender shall also be liable to fine.
Wrongful confinement to extort property or to constrain a person to an illegal act is punishable with imprisonment of either description for up to three years, and the offender is also liable to fine.
Example of Section 347 IPC
When Section 347 IPC Does Not Apply
- Section 347 IPC does not apply when the victim is not wrongfully confined within circumscribing limits.
- Section 347 IPC does not apply when a person is wrongfully confined out of personal anger without any purpose of extorting property or valuable security, compelling an illegal act, or obtaining information to facilitate an offence.
- Section 347 IPC does not apply when an offender attempts to extort money by verbal threats alone while leaving the victim free to move anywhere.
- Section 347 IPC does not apply when the confinement is carried out to compel the restoration of stolen property or to extort a confession, which is governed instead by Section 348 IPC.
Section 347 IPC in the BNS
Section 347 IPC is now covered under Section 127(7) BNS.
Section 347 IPC is succeeded by Section 127(7) BNS. Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, wrongful confinement provisions are consolidated into Section 127(7) BNS, with wrongful confinement to extort property or constrain to an illegal act placed in sub-section 7. The statutory definition, coercive purposes, three-year imprisonment limit, and liability to fine remain substantively unchanged across both enactments.
View detailed comparison (IPC 347 vs BNS 127(7)) →FAQs on Section 347 IPC
What is the scope of Section 347 IPC?▼
Section 347 IPC punishes wrongful confinement committed for the purpose of extorting property or valuable security, or constraining a person to do something illegal or to give information which may facilitate an offence.
What punishment is provided under Section 347 IPC?▼
The offender is punished with imprisonment of either description for a term extending up to three years, and is also liable to fine.
Is an offence under Section 347 IPC bailable?▼
Yes, an offence under Section 347 IPC is cognizable and bailable under the First Schedule to the CrPC.
Which court is competent to try an offence under Section 347 IPC?▼
An offence under Section 347 IPC is triable by any Magistrate.
Is Section 347 IPC compoundable?▼
No, Section 347 IPC is not compoundable under Section 320 CrPC.
Does Section 347 IPC require the extortion to be successful?▼
No, the offence is complete upon confining the victim for the stated coercive purpose, regardless of whether property was actually extorted or the illegal act performed.
How does Section 347 IPC differ from Section 342 IPC?▼
Section 342 IPC punishes simple wrongful confinement without a coercive purpose carrying up to one year imprisonment, whereas Section 347 IPC addresses confinement specifically motivated by extortion or illegal constraint carrying up to three years.
What is the corresponding provision for Section 347 IPC in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?▼
Section 347 IPC corresponds to Section 127(7) BNS, where the text and penalty are preserved in the consolidated section.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·