BNS Section 180: Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes (formerly IPC 242, IPC 243, IPC 252, IPC 253, IPC 259 and IPC 489C)
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · in force from 1 July 2024
BNS 180: Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes
From 1 July 2024
Whoever has in his possession any forged or counterfeit coin, stamp, currency-note or bank-note, knowing or having reason to believe the same to be forged or counterfeit and intending to use the same as genuine or that it may be used as genuine, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.
Explanation.—If a person establishes the possession of the forged or counterfeit coin, stamp, currency-note or bank-note to be from a lawful source, it shall not constitute an offence under this section.
What it replaced in the IPC
BNS 180 ← IPC 242 · Possession of counterfeit coin by person who knew it to be counterfeit when he became possessed thereofChanged
BPR&D's comparison records a change. Read what changed before relying on the old wording.
What changed, per BPR&D: Six sections of IPC have been covered in this single section of BNS. Thus, in a single stroke, the number of sections and offences has been reduced by five. and 'not constitute a n offence' is added.
Printed in both official correspondence tables (BPR&D and NCRB).
Whoever, fraudulently or with intent that fraud may be committed, is in possession of counterfeit coin, having known at the time when he became possessed thereof that such coin was counterfeit, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
BNS 180 ← IPC 243 · Possession of Indian coin by person who knew it to be counterfeit when he became possessed thereofChanged
BPR&D's comparison records a change. Read what changed before relying on the old wording.
What changed, per BPR&D: Six sections of IPC have been covered in this single section of BNS. Thus, in a single stroke, the number of sections and offences has been reduced by five. and 'not constitute a n offence' is added.
Printed in both official correspondence tables (BPR&D and NCRB).
Whoever, fraudulently or with intent that fraud may be committed, is in possession of counterfeit coin, which is a counterfeit of [Indian coin], having known at the time when he became possessed of it that it was counterfeit, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
BNS 180 ← IPC 252 · Possession of coin by person who knew it to be altered when he became possessed thereofChanged
BPR&D's comparison records a change. Read what changed before relying on the old wording.
What changed, per BPR&D: Six sections of IPC have been covered in this single section of BNS. Thus, in a single stroke, the number of sections and offences has been reduced by five. and 'not constitute a n offence' is added.
Printed in both official correspondence tables (BPR&D and NCRB).
Whoever fraudulently or with intent that fraud may be committed, is in possession of coin with respect to which the offence defined in either of the section 246 or 248 has been committed, having known at the time of becoming possessed thereof that such offence had been committed with respect to such coin, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
BNS 180 ← IPC 253 · Possession of Indian coin by person who knew it to be altered when he became possessed thereofChanged
BPR&D's comparison records a change. Read what changed before relying on the old wording.
What changed, per BPR&D: Six sections of IPC have been covered in this single section of BNS. Thus, in a single stroke, the number of sections and offences has been reduced by five. and 'not constitute a n offence' is added.
Printed in both official correspondence tables (BPR&D and NCRB).
Whoever, fraudulently or with intent that fraud may be committed, is in possession of coin with respect to which the offence defined in either of the section 247 or 249 has been committed having known at the time of becoming possessed thereof, that such offence had been committed with respect to such coin, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine.
BNS 180 ← IPC 259 · Having possession of counterfeit Government stampChanged
BPR&D's comparison records a change. Read what changed before relying on the old wording.
What changed, per BPR&D: Six sections of IPC have been covered in this single section of BNS. Thus, in a single stroke, the number of sections and offences has been reduced by five. and 'not constitute a n offence' is added.
Printed in both official correspondence tables (BPR&D and NCRB).
Whoever has in his possession any stamp which he knows to be a counterfeit of any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, intending to use, or dispose of the same as a genuine stamp, or in order that it may be used as a genuine stamp, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
BNS 180 ← IPC 489C · Possession of forged or counterfeit currency-notes or bank-notesChanged
BPR&D's comparison records a change. Read what changed before relying on the old wording.
What changed, per BPR&D: Six sections of IPC have been covered in this single section of BNS. Thus, in a single stroke, the number of sections and offences has been reduced by five. and 'not constitute a n offence' is added.
Printed in both official correspondence tables (BPR&D and NCRB).
Whoever has in his possession any forged or counterfeit currency-note or bank-note, knowing or having reason to believe the same to be forged or counterfeit and intending to use the same as genuine or that it may be used as genuine, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.
Which one applies
An offence is governed by the law in force when it was committed. An offence committed before 1 July 2024 is charged and punished under the IPC; one committed on or after that date, under the BNS. Section 358 of the BNS, which repeals the IPC, preserves every liability and proceeding already incurred under it.
Read BNS section 358 →Judgments decided under IPC 242
They remain the law on IPC 242. Where the provision changed in the move, read what changed before relying on one for an offence after 1 July 2024.
Sources
- Correspondence Table and Comparison Summary of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 to the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Bureau of Police Research & Development, Ministry of Home Affairs, page 19.
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: bare Act with Corresponding Section Table, National Crime Records Bureau (Sankalan), page 46.
- The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Act 45 of 1860), as amended, India Code, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice.
BPR&D is the Bureau of Police Research & Development (Ministry of Home Affairs); NCRB the National Crime Records Bureau. Their correspondence tables are training aids, not law. This page is general information, not legal advice on any case; the bare Acts as published by the Government of India are the authority.