A' threatens 'B' to bum 'B' house to desist him to prosecute a civil suit. What crime is committed by 'A'?

Solution (By Examveda Team)

The correct answer is A: Criminal Intimidation.

First, let's define Criminal Intimidation. According to the Indian Penal Code (IPC), criminal intimidation is defined in Section 503. It states that whoever threatens another with any injury to his person, reputation or property, or to the person or reputation of any one in whom such person is interested, with intent to cause alarm to that person, or to cause that person to do any act which he is not legally bound to do, or to omit to do any act which that person is legally entitled to do, as the means of avoiding the execution of such threat, commits criminal intimidation.

In this scenario, 'A' threatens 'B' with burning down 'B's house. This is a clear threat of injury to 'B's property. 'A' intends to make 'B' desist from prosecuting a civil suit, an act 'B' is legally entitled to do. Therefore, 'A's actions perfectly fit the definition of criminal intimidation under Section 503 of the IPC.

Why other options are incorrect:
B: Mischief: While burning down a house could be considered mischief (Section 425 and other related sections of the IPC), the focus here is on the threat itself, not the actual execution of the act. The crime is committed at the point of the threat, aiming to coerce 'B'. Mischief would be the crime if 'A' actually burned down the house.

C: Criminal breach of trust: This involves betraying a trust placed in someone. There is no element of trust between 'A' and 'B' in this situation.

D: None of these: This is incorrect because 'A's actions clearly constitute a criminal offense under the IPC, specifically criminal intimidation.