IPC Section 419 — Punishment for cheating by personation

cheating

Criminal

Punishment

Imprisonment up to 3 years, or fine, or both

As the section puts it: “shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both”

Summary

If a person cheats someone by pretending to be someone else, they can be punished with imprisonment for up to three years, or with a fine, or both. The court may decide the type of imprisonment and the amount of fine.

Official Text

Whoever cheats by personation shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

Related Judgments

  • YASH PAL MITTAL vs STATE OF PUNJAB — Supreme Court of India (1977)
  • Deepti Anil Devasthali and; Leena Anil Devastnali vs State of Maharashtra — Bombay High Court (Mumbai Principal Seat) (2009)
  • THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA vs VIMAL KUMAR SURANA AND ANOTHER — Supreme Court of India (2010)
  • STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH vs MAN SINGH — Supreme Court of India (2019)
  • MAHARANA PRATAP SINGH vs THE STATE OF BIHAR & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • RAM JAS vs STATE OF U.P — Supreme Court of India (1970)

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