Punishment for molestation of debtor.

(1) A money-lender or his agent who molests or abets the molestation of a debtor for the recovery of debt shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or with both. Explanation:- For the purposes of this section a money lender or his agent shall be deemed to molest a debtor when he commits the following acts with intent to prevent the debtor from doing any act which he has a right to do or forces him to do any act which he has a right not to do:- (a) obstructs the debtor of uses violence against or intimidates him, or (b) follows the debtor wherever he goes or interferes with any property owned or used by him or deprives him of, or hinders him in, the use thereof, or (c) loiters or does any similar act at or near a house or place where the debtor resides, works, or carries on any business or is present there by accident: Provided that if a money lender or his agent happens to be at a near such house or place merely for the purpose of obtaining or communicating any information or to make a demand for a loan due, he shall not be deemed to have molested the debtor. (2) An offence under this section shall be cognizable and bailable.