Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter X: Of Offences Relating to Coin, Currency-Notes, Bank-Notes, and Government Stamps
Section 180: Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes
In plain words
Possessing forged or counterfeit coins, stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes, knowing they are fake and intending them to be used as genuine, is punishable with up to seven years in prison, or a fine, or both.
- It is not an offence if the person shows they came from a lawful source.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
Whoever has in his possession any forged or counterfeit coin, stamp, currency-note or bank-note, knowing or having reason to believe the same to be forged or counterfeit and intending to use the same as genuine or that it may be used as genuine, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.
Explanation.—If a person establishes the possession of the forged or counterfeit coin, stamp, currency-note or bank-note to be from a lawful source, it shall not constitute an offence under this section.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 25 August 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 180
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.