The Supreme Court, in M/s. Balaji Traders v. State of U.P. & Anr., clarified that for an offence under Section 387 IPC, actual delivery of money or property is not required. A Bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Manoj Misra held that merely putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt with the intent of extortion is enough to establish liability. Overturning the Allahabad High Court’s decision to quash summons, the Court found that threatening the complainant at gunpoint for ₹5 lakhs satisfied Section 387. The case was restored for trial, reinforcing the scope of aggravated extortion.
