BNS Section 204 — Personating a public servant

CHAPTER XII OF OFFENCES BY OR RELATING TO PUBLIC SERVANTS

Criminal

Punishment

Imprisonment 6 months–3 years or fine

As the section puts it: “shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to three years and with fine”

Summary

Whoever pretends to hold a specific office as a public servant, knowing they do not actually hold that office, or falsely pretends to be some other person who does hold such an office, and in that assumed role does or tries to do any act under the cover of that office, will be punished with imprisonment of either kind for a term of at least six months, which can go up to three years, and also with a fine.

Official Text

Whoever pretends to hold any particular office as a public servant, knowing that he does not hold such office or falsely personates any other person holding such office, and in such assumed character does or attempts to do any act under colour of such office, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to three years and with fine.

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