Section 508 IPC: Act caused by inducing person to believe that he will be rendered an object of the Divine displeasure

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 508 IPC at a Glance

Section 508 IPC deals with act caused by inducing person to believe that he will be rendered an object of the Divine displeasure. It is bailable and non-cognizable, triable by any Magistrate; from 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 354 BNS.

Punishment

Imprisonment of either description for up to one year.

Bailable ⓘNon-Cognizable ⓘCompoundable ⓘ🏛️ Any Magistrate ⓘ
BNS Equivalent

Section 354 →

Section 508 IPC Bare Act Text

508. Act caused by inducing person to believe that he will be rendered an object of the Divine displeasure

Whoever voluntarily causes or attempts to cause any person to do anything which that person is not legally bound to do, or to omit to do anything which he is legally entitled to do, by inducing or attempting to induce that person to believe that he or any person in whom he is interested will become or will be rendered by some act of the offender an object of Divine displeasure if he does not do the thing which it is the object of the offender to cause him to do, or if he does the thing which it is the object of the offender to cause him to omit, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

Illustrations

(a) A sits dhurna at Z's door with the intention of causing it to be believed that, by so sitting, he renders Z an object of Divine displeasure. A has committed the offence defined in this section.

(b) A threatens Z that, unless Z performs a certain act, A will kill one of A's own children, under such circumstances that the killing would be believed to render Z an object of Divine displeasure. A has committed the offence defined in this section.

Source: Section 508, Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 508 IPC in Simple Words

Section 508 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punishes voluntarily causing or attempting to cause any person to do something he is not legally bound to do, or omit something he is legally entitled to do, by inducing him to believe that he or someone in whom he is interested will become an object of Divine displeasure by an act of the offender.

The punishment is imprisonment of either description for up to one year, or fine, or both.

Ingredients of Section 508 IPC

  • Voluntarily causing or attempting to cause a person to do something he is not legally bound to do, or omit something he is legally entitled to do
  • Inducing or attempting to induce that person to believe that he or anyone in whom he is interested will be rendered an object of Divine displeasure by some act of the offender

Punishment Under Section 508 IPC

Imprisonment

Imprisonment of either description for up to one year.

Fine

Fine in place of imprisonment, or both. The section sets no limit.

Bailable ⓘNon-Cognizable ⓘCompoundable ⓘ🏛️ Any Magistrate ⓘ

Inducing a person to act or refrain from acting through fear of Divine displeasure is punishable with imprisonment of either description for up to one year, or fine, or both. It is non-cognizable and bailable, triable by any Magistrate, and compoundable by the person induced without permission of the court.

Example of Section 508 IPC

In 2017 in Ujjain, Govind demanded that Meenakshi refrain from filing a civil suit to recover a loan from him, warning her that if she sued, he would slash his own wrists before a shrine so that his act would bring Divine displeasure upon her and her son. Meenakshi was legally entitled to sue for the loan. Govind voluntarily attempted to cause Meenakshi to omit an act she was legally entitled to do by attempting to induce her to believe that his act would render her and her son objects of Divine displeasure. Govind is punishable under Section 508 IPC.

When Section 508 IPC Does Not Apply

  • Section 508 IPC does not apply when the offender only seeks to make a person perform a duty that the law already requires him to perform, or abstain from an act that he has no legal right to perform.
  • Section 508 IPC does not apply when the fear or belief sought to be created is of worldly harm or social boycott rather than of becoming an object of Divine displeasure.
  • Section 508 IPC does not apply when the speaker merely warns that the listener's own conduct will displease the Deity, without claiming that some act of the offender will render the listener or someone in whom he is interested an object of Divine displeasure.

Section 508 IPC in the BNS

Section 508 IPC is now covered under Section 354 BNS.

Section 508 IPC corresponds to Section 354 BNS. The heading omits the word the before Divine displeasure, and the first illustration updates the spelling of dhurna to dharna. The statutory text and punishment remain unchanged.

View detailed comparison (IPC 508 vs BNS 354) →

FAQs on Section 508 IPC

What does Section 508 IPC punish?▼

It punishes voluntarily causing or attempting to cause any person to do anything which that person is not legally bound to do, or to omit to do anything which he is legally entitled to do, by inducing or attempting to induce that person to believe that he or any person in whom he is interested will become or will be rendered by some act of the offender an object of Divine displeasure, with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

Does Section 508 IPC apply if the victim does not give in to the threat?▼

Yes. The section explicitly covers an attempt to cause the person to act or omit to act, as well as an attempt to induce the belief, making the offence complete even if the victim refuses to comply.

What practices are illustrated under Section 508 IPC?▼

The first illustration is A sitting dhurna at Z's door with the intention of causing it to be believed that, by so sitting, he renders Z an object of Divine displeasure. The second is A threatening Z that, unless Z performs a certain act, A will kill one of A's own children, under such circumstances that the killing would be believed to render Z an object of Divine displeasure.

Is Section 508 IPC cognizable and bailable?▼

Section 508 IPC is bailable and non-cognizable under the First Schedule to the CrPC.

Which court tries an offence under Section 508 IPC?▼

Any Magistrate may try an offence under Section 508 IPC.

Can an offence under Section 508 IPC be compounded?▼

Yes. Under Section 320(1) CrPC, the offence may be compounded by the person induced without requiring permission of the court.

Where is Section 508 IPC placed in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?▼

It is placed in Section 354 BNS, retaining identical substantive provisions while updating the spelling of dhurna to dharna.

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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 ·