IPC Section 475 — Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents described in section 467, or possessing counterfeit marked material
offences relating to documents and to property marks
Criminal
Punishment
Life imprisonment or imprisonment up to 7 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 seven years, and shall also be liable to fine”
Summary
A person who makes a fake version of a seal, stamp, or other authenticating mark on any material, intending it to be used to make a forged document look real, commits an offence. It is also an offence to possess any material that has such a fake authenticating mark on it, with the same intention. The punishment for this offence can be imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for up to seven years, along with a fine.
Official Text
Whoever counterfeits upon, or in the substance of, any material, any device or mark used for the purpose of authenticating any document described in section 467 of this Code, intending that such device or mark shall be used for the purpose of giving the appearance of authenticity to any document then forged or thereafter to be forged on such material, or who, with such intent, has in his possession any material upon or in the substance of which any such device or mark has been counterfeited, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Sections referred to
Related Judgments
- S. L. GOSWAMI vs HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH AT JABALPUR — Supreme Court of India (1978)
- DR. S. DUTT vs STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH — Supreme Court of India (1965)
- THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA vs VIMAL KUMAR SURANA AND ANOTHER — Supreme Court of India (2010)
- VISHNU CHANDRU GAONKAR vs N.M. DESSAI — Supreme Court of India (2018)
- SHYNI VARGHESE & ORS. vs STATE (GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI) & ANR — Delhi High Court (2008)
Old <-> New Code Mapping
- BNS §342 — Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents described in section 338, or possessing counterfeit marked material