A, for the purpose of inducing B to resist from prosecuting a civil suit, threatens to burn B's house. A is guilty of

Explanation under BNS, 2023 The offence of Criminal Intimidation is defined under Section 351 of the BNS, 2023 (which corresponds to Section 503 of the repealed Indian Penal Code). 1. The Statutory Definition (Section 351 BNS) According to Section 351, a person commits criminal intimidation if they:

• Threaten another person with injury to their person, reputation, or property (or to someone they are interested in).
• With the Intent to cause alarm to that person, or to force them to do something they are not legally bound to do, or to omit to do something they are legally entitled to do .

The scenario you provided is actually the standard Illustration used in the bare act to explain this section: "A, for the purpose of inducing B to resist from prosecuting a civil suit, threatens to burn B’s house. A is guilty of criminal intimidation." 2. Why this fits the criteria:

• The Threat: Burning a house (injury to property).
• The Coercion: Inducing B to "resist from prosecuting a civil suit" (omitting an act B is legally entitled to perform).
• The Offence: Since the threat is used as a tool to interfere with B's legal rights and will, it constitutes criminal intimidation.

3. Punishments (Section 351 BNS) The BNS categorizes the punishment based on the severity of the threat:

• Section 351(2): General criminal intimidation is punishable with imprisonment for up to two years , or with fine, or both.
• Section 351(3): If the threat is to cause death, grievous hurt, or destruction of property by fire (as in this specific case), the punishment is more severe, extending up to seven years , or fine, or both.

Summary Table: BNS vs. IPC