Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XIV: Of False Evidence and Offences against Public Justice
Section 242: False personation for purpose of act or proceeding in suit or prosecution
In plain words
Falsely impersonating someone and, in that role, making an admission or statement, confessing judgment, getting a process issued, standing bail or surety, or doing any other act in a lawsuit or criminal case is punishable with up to three years in prison, or a fine, or both.
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 falsely personates another, and in such assumed character makes any admission or statement, or confesses judgment, or causes any process to be issued or becomes bail or security, or does any other act in any suit or criminal prosecution, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
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 242
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.