BNS Section 168 — Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman

Summary

A person who is not actually a soldier, sailor, or airman in the Army, Naval, or Air service of the Government of India, and who wears any clothing or carries any item that looks like the clothing or item used by such a soldier, sailor, or airman, with the intention of making others believe that he is such a soldier, sailor, or airman, commits an offence. The punishment for this offence is imprisonment of either kind for a term that may extend to three months, or a fine that may extend to two thousand rupees, or both.

Official Text

Whoever, not being a soldier, sailor or airman in the Army, Naval or Air service of the Government of India, wears any garb or carries any token resembling any garb or token used by such a soldier, sailor or airman with the intention that it may be believed that he is such a soldier, sailor or airman, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both.

Related Judgments

• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.6 p.280 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1531 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.8 p.670 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2024) Vol.6 p.129 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2025) Vol.4 p.2730 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.9 p.283 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• IPC §140 — Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman