340. (1) A false document or electronic record made wholly or in part by forgery is designated a forged document or electronic record. (2) Whoever fraudulently or dishonestly uses as genuine any document or electronic record which he knows or has reason to believe to be a forged document or electronic record, shall be punished in the same manner as if he had forged such document or electronic record.
IPC Section 470 in BNS: Section 340
Forged document or electronic record
Section 470 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Forged document or electronic record) corresponds to Section 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in force from 1 July 2024. Under the BNSS First Schedule, BNS 340(2) is cognizable, bailable, triable by Magistrate of the first class; punishment: Punishment for forgery of such document.
Ask on WhatsApp, free, no signup:
Bail, cognizability and punishment
| Section | Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 340(2) | Using as genuine a forged document which is known to be forged. | Punishment for forgery of such document. | Cognizable | 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 340
Full BNS Section 340 and every IPC section it replaced →
Other IPC sections now in BNS 340
- IPC 471: Using as genuine a forged document or electronic record → BNS 340
Ask CaseMinister about IPC 470 / BNS 340
Your 24×7 legal assistant on WhatsApp answers with the judgments that apply, in English or Hindi. No signup needed.