Explain the difference between theft, extortion, and robbery under the Indian Penal Code.

Theft, extortion, and robbery are all offenses against property under the Indian Penal Code. While they all involve taking or obtaining property unlawfully, there are significant differences between these offenses.

Theft is defined under section 378 of the Indian Penal Code. It is the taking of movable property out of the possession of another person, without that person's consent, with the intention of depriving them of the property. Theft can be committed through force or deception, but it does not involve the use or threat of violence.

Extortion is defined under section 383 of the Indian Penal Code. It is the act of compelling another person to deliver property or to do or omit to do something, by threatening to cause injury to that person or their property. The threat can be made by words, gestures, or any other means of communication. In other words, extortion involves the use of coercion or force to obtain property or services.

Robbery is defined under section 390 of the Indian Penal Code. It is the act of taking or attempting to take property from another person's possession by using force or fear. The use or threat of violence is a key element of robbery. The fear may be of immediate harm or death, or it may be of harm to the person's property.

The main difference between these offenses is the manner in which the property is taken or obtained. Theft involves taking property without the owner's consent, while extortion involves obtaining property through threats or coercion. Robbery involves taking property by force or fear, usually with the use of violence or the threat of violence.

Another difference is the severity of the offense and the corresponding punishment. Theft is a non-violent offense and is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, or a fine, or both. Extortion is a more serious offense, and is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, or a fine, or both. Robbery is the most serious of the three offenses, and is punishable with imprisonment of up to ten years, and can also include a fine.

In conclusion, while theft, extortion, and robbery all involve taking or obtaining property unlawfully, they differ in the manner in which the property is taken and the severity of the offense. Theft involves taking property without the owner's consent, extortion involves obtaining property through threats or coercion, and robbery involves taking property by force or fear with the use of violence.