IPC Section 467 — Forgery of valuable security, will, etc.
offences relating to documents and to property marks
Criminal
Punishment
Life imprisonment or imprisonment up to 10 years and fine
As the section puts it: “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”
Summary
This section makes it a crime to forge certain important documents. These include documents that pretend to be a valuable security (like a share certificate or bond), a will, or an authority to adopt a son. It also covers forged documents that claim to give someone the power to create or transfer a valuable security, or to receive money, property, or payments from such a security. The punishment for this offence can be imprisonment for life, or up to ten years in prison, along with a fine.
Official Text
Whoever forges a document which purports to be a valuable security or a will, or an authority to adopt a son, or which purports to give authority to any person to make or transfer any valuable security, or to receive the principal, interest or dividends thereon, or to receive or deliver any money, movable property, or valuable security, or any document purporting to be an acquittance or receipt acknowledging the payment of money, or an acquittance or receipt for the delivery of any movable property or valuable security, 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.
Referred to by
- IPC §472 — Making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc., with intent to commit forgery punishable under section 467
- IPC §473 — Making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc., with intent to commit forgery punishable otherwise
- IPC §475 — Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents described in section 467, or possessing counterfeit marked material
- IPC §476 — Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents other than those described in section 467, or possessing counterfeit marked material
Related Judgments
- MATUKDHARI SINGH AND OTHERS vs JANARDAN PRASAD — Supreme Court of India (1965)
- BHANWAR SINGH & ANR. vs STATE OF RAJASTHAN — Supreme Court of India (1967)
- RAM NARAIN POPLI vs CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION — Supreme Court of India (2003)
- URMILA DEVI & OTHERS vs BALRAM & ANOTHER — Supreme Court of India (2025)
