IPC Section 477 — Fraudulent cancellation, destruction, etc., of will, authority to adopt, or valuable security

Summary

If a person fraudulently, dishonestly, or with intent to harm the public or any individual, cancels, destroys, defaces, hides, or attempts to do any of these things to a document that is or claims to be a will, an authority to adopt a son, or any valuable security, or commits mischief regarding such a document, they can be punished with life imprisonment, or imprisonment of up to seven years, and also a fine.

Official Text

Whoever fraudulently or dishonestly, or with intent to cause damage or injury to the public or to any person, cancels, destroys or defaces, or attempts to cancel, destroy or deface, or secretes or attempts to secrete any document which is or purports to be a will, or an authority to adopt a son, or any valuable security, or commits mischief in respect of such document, 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.

Related Judgments

• MD. IBRAHIM & ORS v. STATE OF BIHAR & ANR. 1261 — Supreme Court of India (2009)
• RAMARAO v. NARAYAN — Supreme Court of India (1969)
• ... Petitioner/A-5 in Crl.OP.7183/2015 vs The Deputy Superintendent of Police, — Madras High Court (2015)
• MIR NAGVI ASKARI v. C.8.1. 135 — Supreme Court of India (2009)
• S.C.R. 884 884 VIJAY KUMAR GHAI & ORS v. THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2022)
• INDER MOHAN GOSWAMI AND ANR v. STATE OF UTTARANCHAL AND ORS. OCTOBER 9, 2007 — Supreme Court of India (2007)
• S.C.R. 875 875 MITESH KUMAR J. SHA v. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2021)
• CRL RC/527/2018 — Madras High Court (2018)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNS §343 — Fraudulent cancellation, destruction, etc., of will, authority to adopt, or valuable security