Indian Penal Code, 1860
94. Act to
which a person is compelled by threats
Except murder, and
offences against the State punishable with death, nothing is an offence which
is done by a person who is compelled to do it by threats, which, at the time of
doing it, reasonably cause the apprehension that instant death to that person
will otherwise be the consequence: Provided the person doing the act did not of
his own accord, or from a reasonable apprehension of harm to himself short of
instant death, place himself in the situation by which he became subject to
such constraint.
Explanation 1- A person who, of his own accord, or by reason of a threat
of being beaten, joins a gang of dacoits, knowing their character, is not
entitled to the benefit of this exception, on the ground of his having been
compelled by his associates to do anything that is an offence by law.
Explanation 2- A person seized by a gang of dacoits, and forced, by
threat of instant death, to do a thing which is an offence by law; for example,
a smith compelled to take his tools and to force the door of a house for the
dacoits to enter and plunder it, is entitled to the benefit of this exception.