● Modified in BNS
Using a forged document or electronic record as genuine, knowing or having reason to believe it is forged, carries the same punishment as forging that document in the first place -- unchanged under BNS Section 340(2) from IPC 471, now expressly covering forged electronic records too.
Section 470 IPC designated a false document made wholly or partly by forgery as a "forged document." Section 471 punished whoever fraudulently or dishonestly used as genuine any document known or believed to be forged, with the same punishment as forging that document would have carried.
BNS Section 340(1) expands the "forged document" definition to "a forged document or electronic record." Section 340(2) reproduces the using-as-genuine offence and its derivative punishment mechanism unchanged in substance, now expressly covering a forged electronic record used as genuine.
Unchanged in substance. The genuine addition is scope: using a forged electronic record as genuine is now expressly criminalised, not just a forged physical document.
The same punishment as for forging the particular document or electronic record used as genuine..
IPC 471 is bailable..
This is a cognizable. offence.
Non-compoundable..
Matters under IPC 471 are tried before the Magistrate of the First Class..
Common defences include lack of knowledge or reason to believe the document was forged, and absence of fraudulent or dishonest intent in using it.
Summaries are for general information and are not legal advice. For the authoritative bare-act text, see the official Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Indian Penal Code, 1860 (full amended text, as it stood before repeal) on India Code, or the Ministry of Home Affairs' new criminal laws page. ← All comparisons