(1) No one shall take or cause to be taken criminal benefit (extortion).
(2) For the purpose of sub-section (1), any person who dishonestly obtains any benefit for himself or anyone else out of fear of causing harm to himself or anyone else, or if he does any work or prevents him from doing any work with the intention of obtaining such benefit, shall be deemed to have taken criminal benefit.
(3) A person who commits an offense under sub-section (1) shall be punished as follows:-
(a) If he shows fear or apprehension of killing, maiming or seriously injuring someone with the intention of obtaining criminal benefit, imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and a fine which may extend to seventy thousand rupees,
(b) To cause any damage to someone's business by illegal means or to make false accusations against someone's character, if he takes criminal advantage by showing fear, terror, imprisonment up to three years and fine up to thirty thousand rupees,
(c) Imprisonment for up to one year and fine up to ten thousand rupees for taking criminal benefit in cases other than those mentioned in clause (a) or (b).