BNS Section 180 — Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes

CHAPTER X OF OFFENCES RELATING TO COIN, CURRENCY-NOTES, BANK-NOTES, AND GOVERNMENT STAMPS

Criminal

Summary

Whoever has in their possession any forged or counterfeit coin, stamp, currency-note or bank-note, knowing or having reason to believe it is forged or counterfeit, and intending to use it 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.

The explanation clarifies that if a person establishes that their possession of the forged or counterfeit coin, stamp, currency-note or bank-note came from a lawful source, it shall not constitute an offence under this section.

Official Text

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.

Related Judgments

  • SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2024) Vol.7 p.1054 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
  • PUNJAB AND SINDH BANK v. VINKAR SAHAKARI BANK LTD. AND ORS. SEPTEMBER 17, 2001 B — Supreme Court of India (S)
  • SARABHAI M. CHEMICALS v. C.C.E., VADODARA — Supreme Court of India (S)
  • SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • Ravichandran : Appellant/Sole Accused vs State through — Madras High Court ()
  • DIPAKBHAI JAGDISHCHANDRA PATEL v. STATE OF GUJARAT AND ANOTHER — Supreme Court of India (2019)
  • CRL A/433/1995 — Madras High Court (1995)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

  • IPC §242 — Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes
  • IPC §243 — Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes
  • IPC §252 — Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes
  • IPC §253 — Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes
  • IPC §259 — Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes
  • IPC §489C — Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes