338. Whoever forges a document which purports to be a valuable security or a will, or an authority to adopt a son, or which purports to give authority to any person to make or transfer any valuable security, or to receive the principal, interest or dividends thereon, or to receive or deliver any money, movable property, or valuable security, or any document purporting to be an acquittance or receipt acknowledging the payment of money, or an acquittance or receipt for the delivery of any movable property or valuable security, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
BNS Section 338: Forgery of valuable security, will, etc
Section 338 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 deals with forgery of valuable security, will, etc. It replaces IPC 467 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Under the BNSS First Schedule, BNS 338 is non-cognizable and non-bailable.
Bail, cognizability and punishment
| Section | Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 338 | Forgery of a valuable security, will, or authority to make or transfer any valuable security, or to receive any money, etc. | Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine. | Non-cognizable | Non-bailable | Magistrate of the first class |
| 338 | When the valuable security is a promissory note of the Central Government. | Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine. | Cognizable | Non-bailable | Magistrate of the first class |
Source: BNSS, 2023, First Schedule, Part I.
Text of BNS Section 338
IPC sections replaced
- IPC 467: Forgery of valuable security, will, etc
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