BNS Section 350: Making a false mark upon any receptacle containing goods (formerly IPC 487 and IPC 488)

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · in force from 1 July 2024

BNS 350: Making a false mark upon any receptacle containing goods

From 1 July 2024

(1) Whoever makes any false mark upon any case, package or other receptacle containing goods, in a manner reasonably calculated to cause any public servant or any other person to believe that such receptacle contains goods which it does not contain or that it does not contain goods which it does contain, or that the goods contained in such receptacle are of a nature or quality different from the real nature or quality thereof, shall, unless he proves that he acted without intent to defraud, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

(2) Whoever makes use of any false mark in any manner prohibited under sub-section (1) shall, unless he proves that he acted without intent to defraud, be punished as if he had committed the offence under sub-section (1).

What it replaced in the IPC

BNS 350(1) ← IPC 487 · Making a false mark upon any receptacle containing goodsChanged

BPR&D's comparison records a change. Read what changed before relying on the old wording.

What changed, per BPR&D: IPC section is included as a sub-section in BNS.

Printed in both official correspondence tables (BPR&D and NCRB).

Whoever makes any false mark upon any case, package or other receptacle containing goods, in a manner reasonably calculated to cause any public servant or any other person to believe that such receptacle contains goods which it does not contain or that it does not contain goods which it does contain, or that the goods contained in such receptacle are of a nature or quality different from the real nature or quality thereof, shall, unless he proves that he acted without intent to defraud, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

IPC 487 on its own page →
BNS 350(2) ← IPC 488 · Punishment for making use of any such false markDrafting change only

BPR&D's comparison records a change of drafting only, so the substance is the same.

What changed, per BPR&D: IPC section is included as a sub-section in BNS sans heading.

Printed in both official correspondence tables (BPR&D and NCRB).

Whoever makes use of any such false mark in any manner prohibited by the last foregoing section shall, unless he proves that he acted without intent to defraud, be punished as if he had committed an offence against that section.

IPC 488 on its own page →

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 487

They remain the law on IPC 487. Where the provision changed in the move, read what changed before relying on one for an offence after 1 July 2024.

Sources

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.