Indian Penal Code, 1860
IPC Chapter 12
OFFENCES RELATING TO COIN AND GOVERNMENT STAMPS
Section 231 — Counterfeiting coin
Offence
Whoever counterfeits or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting coin,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: seven years.
Section 232 — Counterfeiting Indian coin
Offence
Whoever counterfeits, or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting Indian coin,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment for life may be imposed.
- Imprisonment: life.
Section 233 — Making or selling instrument for counterfeiting coin
Offence
Whoever makes or mends, or performs any part of the process of making or mending, or buys, sells or disposes of, any die or instrument, for the purpose of being used, or knowing or having reason to believe that it is intended to be used, for the purpose of counterfeiting coin,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extended to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: a term which may extended to three years.
Section 234 — Making or selling instrument for counterfeiting Indian coin
Offence
Whoever makes or mends, or performs any part of the process of making or mending or buys, sells or disposes of, any die or instrument, for the purpose of being used, or knowing or having reason to believe that it is intended to be used, for the purpose of counterfeiting Indian coin,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: seven years.
Section 235 — Possession of instrument or material for the purpose of using the same for counterfeiting coin
Offence
Whoever is in possession of any instrument or material, for the purpose of using the same for counterfeiting coin, or knowing or having reason to believe that the same is intended to be used for that purpose,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine;
- Imprisonment: three years.
Section 236 — Abetting in India the counterfeiting out of India of coin
Offence
Whoever, being within India abets the counterfeiting of coin out of India
Punishment
shall be punished in the same manner as if he abetted the counterfeiting of such coin within India.
- See punishment clause in section text.
Section 237 — Import or export of counterfeit coin
Offence
Whoever imports into India, or exports therefrom, any counterfeit coin, knowingly or having reason to believe that the same is counterfeit,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: three years.
Section 238 — Import or export of counterfeits of the Indian coin
Offence
Whoever imports into India, or exports there from, any counterfeit coin, which he knows or has reason to believe to be a counterfeit of Indian coin,
Punishment
shall be punished with Imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment for life may be imposed.
- Imprisonment: life.
Section 239 — Delivery of coin possessed with knowledge that it is counterfeit
Offence
Whoever, having any counterfeit coin, which at the time when he became possessed of it, he knew to be counterfeit, fraudulently or with intent that fraud may be committed, delivers the same to any persons or attempts to induce any person to receive it,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: five years.
Section 240 — Delivery of Indian coin, possessed with knowledge that it is counterfeit
Offence
Whoever having any counterfeit coin, which is a counterfeit of Indian coin, and which, at the time when he became possessed of it, he knew to be a counterfeit of Indian coin, fraudulently or with intent that fraud may be committed, delivers the same to any person, or attempts to induce any person to receive it,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: ten years.
Section 241 — Delivery of coin as genuine, which, when first possessed, the deliverer did not know to be counterfeit
Offence
Whoever delivers to any other person as genuine, or attempts to induce any other person to receive as genuine, any counterfeit coin which he knows to be counterfeit, but which he did not know to be counterfeit at the time when he took it into his possession,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine to an amount which may extend to ten times the value of the coin counterfeited, or with both.
- Imprisonment: two years.
- Fine: to an amount which may extend to ten times the value of the coin counterfeited.
Section 242 — Possession of counterfeit coin by person who knew it to be counterfeit when he became possessed thereof
Offence
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,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: three years.
Section 243 — Possession of Indian coin by person who knew it to be counterfeit when he became possessed thereof
Offence
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,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: seven years.
Section 244 — Person employed in mint causing coin to be of different weight or composition from that fixed by law
Offence
Whoever, being employed in any mint lawfully established in India, does any act, or omits what he is legally bound to do, with the intention of causing any coin issued from that mint to be of a different weight or composition from the weight or composition fixed by law,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: seven years.
Section 245 — Unlawfully taking coining instrument from mint
Offence
Whoever, without lawful authority, takes out of any mint, lawfully established in India, any coining tool or instrument,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: seven years.
Section 246 — Fraudulently or dishonestly diminishing weight or altering composition of coin
Offence
Whoever, fraudulently or dishonestly performs on any coin any operation which diminishes the weight or alters the composition of that coin,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: three years.
Section 247 — Fraudulently or dishonestly diminishing weight or altering composition of Indian coin
Offence
Whoever fraudulently or dishonestly performs on any Indian coin any operation which diminishes the weight or alters the composition of that coin,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: seven years.
Section 248 — Altering appearance of coin with intent that it shall pass as coin of different description
Offence
Whoever performs on any coin any operation which alters the appearance of that coin, with the intention that the said coin shall pass as a coin of a different description,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: three years.
Section 249 — Altering appearance of Indian coin with intent that it shall pass as coin of different description
Offence
Whoever performs on any Indian coin any operation which alters the appearance of that coin, with the intention that the said coin shall pass as a coin of a different description,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: seven years.
Section 250 — Delivery of coin possessed with knowledge that it is altered
Offence
Whoever, having coin in his possession with respect to which the offence defined in sections 246 or 248 has been committed, and having known at the time when he became possessed of such coin that such offence had been committed with respect to it, fraudulently or with intent that fraud may be committed, delivers such coin to any other person, or attempts to induce any other person to receive the same,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: five years.
Section 251 — Delivery of Indian coin, possessed with knowledge that it is altered
Offence
Whoever, having coin in his possession with respect to which the offence defined in sections 247 or 249 has been committed, and having known at the time when he became possessed of such coin that such offence had been committed with respect to it, fraudulently or with intent that fraud may be committed, delivers such coin to any other person, or attempts to induce any other person to receive the same,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: ten years.
Section 252 — Possession of coin by person who knew it to be altered when he became possessed thereof
Offence
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 sections 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,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: three years.
Section 253 — Possession of Indian coin by person who knew it to be altered when he became possessed thereof
Offence
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 sections 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,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: five years.
Section 254 — Delivery of coin as genuine which, when first possessed, the deliverer did not know to be altered
Offence
Whoever delivers to any other person as genuine or as a coin of a different description from what it is, or attempts to induce any person to receive as genuine, or as a different coin from what it is, any coin in respect of which he knows that any such operation as that mentioned in sections 246, 247, 248 or 249 has been performed, but in respect of which he did not, at the time when he took it into his possession, know that such operation had been performed,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years or with fine to an amount which may extend to ten times the value of the coin for which the altered coin is passed, or attempted to be passed.
- Imprisonment: two years.
- Fine: to an amount which may extend to ten times the value of the coin for which the altered coin is passed.
Section 255 — Counterfeiting Government stamp
Offence
Whoever counterfeits, or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting, any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment for life may be imposed.
- Imprisonment: life.
Section 256 — Having possession of instrument or material for counterfeiting Government stamp
Offence
Whoever has in his possession any instrument or material for the purpose of being used, or knowing or having reason to believe that it is intended to be used, for the purpose of counterfeiting any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: seven years.
Section 257 — Making or selling instrument for counterfeiting Government stamp
Offence
Whoever makes or performs any part of the process of making, or buys, or sells, or disposes of, any instrument for the purpose of being used, or knowing or having reason to believe that it is intended to be used, for the purpose of counterfeiting any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: seven years.
Section 258 — Sale of counterfeit Government stamp
Offence
Whoever sells, or offers for sale, any stamp which he knows or has reason to believe to be a counterfeit of any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: seven years.
Section 259 — Having possession of counterfeit Government stamp
Offence
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,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Imprisonment: seven years.
Section 260 — Using as genuine a Government stamp known to be counterfeit
Offence
Whoever uses as genuine any stamp, knowing it to be a counterfeit of any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.
- Imprisonment: seven years.
Section 261 — Effacing writing from substance bearing Government stamp, or removing from document a stamp used for it, with intent to cause loss to Government
Offence
Whoever, fraudulently or with intent to cause loss to the Government, removes or effaces from any substance, bearing any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, any writing or document for which such stamp has been used, or removes from any writing or document a stamp which has been used for such writing or document, in order that such stamp may be used for a different writing or document,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
- Imprisonment: three years.
Section 262 — Using Government stamp known to have been before used
Offence
Whoever, fraudulently or with intent to cause loss to the Government, uses for any purpose a stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, which he knows to have been before used,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
- Imprisonment: two years.
Section 263 — Erasure of mark denoting that stamp has been used
Offence
Whoever, fraudulently or with intent to cause loss to Government, erases or removes from a stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, any mark, put or impressed upon such stamp for the purpose of denoting that the same has been used, or knowingly has in his possession or sells or disposes of any such stamp from which such mark has been erased or removed, or sells or disposes of any such stamp which he knows to have been used,
Punishment
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
- Imprisonment: three years.
Section 263A — Prohibition of fictitious stamps
Offence
Whoever:
makes, knowingly utters, deals in or sells any fictitious stamp, or knowingly uses for any postal purpose any fictitious stamp, or
has in his possession, without lawful excuse, any fictitious stamp, or
makes or, without lawful excuse, has in his possession any die, plate, instrument or materials for making any fictitious stamp,
Punishment
shall be punished with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
Any such stamp, die, plate, instrument or materials in the possession of any person for making any fictitious stamp may be seized and, if seized shall be forfeited.
In this section “fictitious stamp” means any stamp falsely purporting to be issued by Government for the purpose of denoting a rate of postage, or any facsimile or imitation or representation, whether on paper or otherwise, of any stamp issued by Government for that purpose.
In this section and also in sections 255 to 263, both inclusive, the word “Government”, when used in connection with, or in reference to, any stamp issued for the purpose of denoting a rate of postage, shall, notwithstanding anything in section 17, be deemed to include the person or persons authorized by law to administer executive Government in any part of India, and also in any part of Her Majesty’s dominions or in any foreign country.
- Fine: two hundred rupees.