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.
IPC Section 467 in BNS: Section 338
Forgery of valuable security, will, etc
Section 467 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Forgery of valuable security, will, etc) corresponds to Section 338 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in force from 1 July 2024. Under the BNSS First Schedule, BNS 338 is non-cognizable, non-bailable, triable by Magistrate of the first class; punishment: Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine.
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.
The BNS applies to offences committed on or after 1 July 2024. Offences committed earlier are charged and tried under the IPC.
Text of BNS Section 338
Full BNS Section 338 and every IPC section it replaced →
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