{"id":1292,"date":"2022-09-15T08:13:22","date_gmt":"2022-09-15T02:43:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/?p=1292"},"modified":"2026-10-25T20:59:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T15:29:59","slug":"legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/","title":{"rendered":"Section 255 IPC (Now Section 178 BNS): Counterfeiting Government Stamps \u2013 Punishment, Bail, Related Stamp Offences and \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 255 in Hindi"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Section 255 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punished counterfeiting a Government stamp: &#8220;Whoever counterfeits, or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting, any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue&#8221; could be sentenced to imprisonment for life, or to imprisonment of up to ten years, and was also liable to a fine. The IPC was replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) with effect from 1 July 2024. The same offence is now in Section 178 BNS, which also covers counterfeiting coins, currency-notes and bank-notes, with the same punishment: imprisonment for life, or up to ten years, and fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The offence is cognizable, non-bailable and triable by a Court of Session, and it cannot be settled by compromise. The other old stamp offences, Sections 256 to 263A IPC, are now Sections 179 to 181 and 183 to 186 BNS (Section 182 concerns currency-notes). A summary in Hindi (\u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 255 \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0939\u0948) is given further below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"clf-keyfacts\" style=\"border:1px solid #d9d2c5;background:#faf7f2;border-radius:6px;padding:14px 18px;margin:0 0 24px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:700\">Section 255 IPC \/ Section 178 BNS at a glance<\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:20px\">\n<li><strong>New section:<\/strong> Section 255 IPC = Section 178 BNS for offences committed on or after 1 July 2024; it merges nine IPC sections on coins, stamps and notes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Offence:<\/strong> counterfeiting, or knowingly doing any part of the process of counterfeiting, a &#8220;stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue&#8221;.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Punishment:<\/strong> imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description up to ten years, and fine (unchanged from Section 255 IPC).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bail and court:<\/strong> cognizable, non-bailable, Court of Session (BNSS First Schedule). Not compoundable (Section 359 BNSS).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Changing the value of a genuine stamp<\/strong> so that it looks like a stamp of a different denomination is &#8220;counterfeiting Government stamp&#8221; (clause (3) of the Explanation to Section 178).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Related offences:<\/strong> selling or using fake stamps (179), possessing them (180), tools and material for counterfeiting (181), reusing stamps (183 to 185), fictitious postage stamps (186).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Used stamps:<\/strong> using a revenue stamp known to have been used before, fraudulently or to cause loss to the Government, is Section 184 BNS (formerly 262 IPC): up to two years, or fine, or both; bailable.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Stamp Act is separate:<\/strong> an instrument that is not duly stamped cannot be used as evidence until duty and penalty are paid (Section 35, Indian Stamp Act, 1899); signing it is punishable with fine (Section 62). These are the central Act&#8217;s rules; State amendments may differ.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Reviewed and updated by Century Law Firm, Delhi \u2013 October 2026. Statutory references are to the Acts as in force on that date. The BNS and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) are quoted from India Code (both as on 6 October 2025; the BNS was checked as still the current version on 23 October 2026), the repealed IPC and the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 from India Code&#8217;s copies (the Stamp Act file carries no &#8220;as on&#8221; date), and the Hindi wording from the Gazette Hindi text of the BNS on India Code.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Section 255 IPC and Section 178 BNS: the exact words<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Section 255 IPC used the same operative words for revenue stamps alone, followed by an Explanation on denominations. (Its words &#8220;imprisonment for life&#8221; had replaced &#8220;transportation for life&#8221; from 1 January 1956.) Section 178 BNS is headed &#8220;Counterfeiting coin, Government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes&#8221; and reads: &#8220;Whoever counterfeits, or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting, any coin, stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, currency-note or bank-note, 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.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The old Explanation survives as clause (3) of the Explanation to Section 178, which applies &#8220;For the purposes of this Chapter&#8221;: &#8220;a person commits the offence of &#8220;counterfeiting Government stamp&#8221; who counterfeits by causing a genuine stamp of one denomination to appear like a genuine stamp of a different denomination&#8221;. &#8220;Imprisonment of either description&#8221; means rigorous (with hard labour) or simple imprisonment (Section 4(c) BNS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For stamps, nothing in the offence or the punishment has changed. The firm&#8217;s Gazette-checked mapping data records that Section 178 replaces Sections 230 to 232, 246 to 249, 255 and 489A IPC; any other old section can be looked up with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-code-comparison-tool\/\">IPC to BNS comparison tool<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What has to be proved under Section 178<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&#8220;Counterfeit&#8221;: resemblance meant to deceive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Counterfeit&#8221; is defined in Section 2(4) BNS (formerly Section 28 IPC, with no change in wording): &#8220;A person is said to &#8220;counterfeit&#8221; who causes one thing to resemble another thing, intending by means of that resemblance to practise deception, or knowing it to be likely that deception will thereby be practised.&#8221; Two Explanations follow. Explanation 1: &#8220;It is not essential to counterfeiting that the imitation should be exact.&#8221; Explanation 2 creates a presumption: where the resemblance is such that a person might be deceived, it &#8220;shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved&#8221;, that the maker intended to deceive or knew deception was likely. (The earlier version of this post wrongly cited Section 2(6) BNS, which defines &#8220;death&#8221;.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&#8220;Stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Government&#8221; means the Central Government or a State Government (Section 2(12) BNS); the BNS does not define a revenue stamp further. The Indian Stamp Act, 1899 defines &#8220;stamp&#8221; as &#8220;any mark, seal or endorsement by any agency or person duly authorised by the State Government, and includes an adhesive or impressed stamp, for the purposes of duty chargeable under this Act&#8221; (Section 2(26)); an &#8220;impressed stamp&#8221; includes &#8220;stamps embossed or engraved on stamped paper&#8221; (Section 2(13)). In the firm&#8217;s reading, the adhesive stamps and stamp paper used to pay stamp duty are revenue stamps of this kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&#8220;Any part of the process&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The section also punishes whoever &#8220;knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting&#8221;, so a person who knowingly does one stage of the work commits the full offence, even if no finished fake stamp is produced. Under clause (3) of the Explanation, altering a genuine stamp to show a different denomination is also counterfeiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How the BNS merged the stamp offences (IPC 255 to 263A)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The IPC had a separate section for each step in a fake-stamp racket. The BNS folds the stamp, coin and currency offences together and raises the maximum sentence for several of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Old IPC section<\/th><th>Old maximum (IPC)<\/th><th>New BNS section<\/th><th>New maximum (BNS)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody>\n<tr><td>255 \u2013 counterfeiting Government stamp<\/td><td>Life, or 10 years, and fine<\/td><td>178<\/td><td>Life, or 10 years, and fine (no change)<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>256 \u2013 possessing instrument or material for counterfeiting<\/td><td>7 years and fine<\/td><td>181<\/td><td>Life, or 10 years, and fine<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>257 \u2013 making or selling such instrument<\/td><td>7 years and fine<\/td><td>181<\/td><td>Life, or 10 years, and fine<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>258 \u2013 sale of counterfeit stamp<\/td><td>7 years and fine<\/td><td>179<\/td><td>Life, or 10 years, and fine<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>259 \u2013 possessing counterfeit stamp<\/td><td>7 years and fine<\/td><td>180<\/td><td>7 years, or fine, or both<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>260 \u2013 using as genuine a stamp known to be counterfeit<\/td><td>7 years, or fine, or both<\/td><td>179<\/td><td>Life, or 10 years, and fine<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>261 \u2013 effacing writing from stamped paper, or removing a used stamp, to reuse it<\/td><td>3 years, or fine, or both<\/td><td>183<\/td><td>Same<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>262 \u2013 using a stamp known to have been used before<\/td><td>2 years, or fine, or both<\/td><td>184<\/td><td>Same<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>263 \u2013 erasing the mark showing a stamp has been used<\/td><td>3 years, or fine, or both<\/td><td>185<\/td><td>Same<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>263A \u2013 fictitious (postage) stamps<\/td><td>Fine up to \u20b9200<\/td><td>186<\/td><td>Same<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Section 182 BNS concerns documents resembling currency-notes, not stamps. (The earlier version of this post put the related stamp offences in &#8220;Sections 179 to 184&#8221;; they run from 179 to 186.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"clf-figure clf-ig\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;padding:14px 12px;border:1px solid #e3e3e3;border-radius:6px;background:#fff\">\n<style>.entry-content .clf-ig,.entry-content .clf-ig *{box-sizing:border-box}.entry-content .clf-ig{max-width:100%;overflow:hidden}.entry-content .clf-ig .ig-title{display:block;font-weight:700;color:#1f2d3d;font-size:1em;line-height:1.35;margin:0 0 4px;text-align:center;overflow-wrap:anywhere}.entry-content .clf-ig .ig-sub{display:block;font-size:.82em;line-height:1.4;color:#555;margin:0 0 12px;text-align:center;overflow-wrap:anywhere}.entry-content .clf-ig .ig-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(min(160px,100%),1fr));gap:10px;margin:0 0 10px}.entry-content .clf-ig .ig-grid2{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(min(240px,100%),1fr));gap:10px;margin:0 0 10px}.entry-content .clf-ig .ig-grid3{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(min(200px,100%),1fr));gap:10px;margin:0 0 10px}.entry-content .clf-ig .ig-box{min-width:0;background:#faf7f2;border:1.5px solid #b9a98c;border-radius:8px;padding:10px 12px;font-size:.88em;line-height:1.45;color:#222;overflow-wrap:anywhere;word-break:normal;hyphens:auto;margin:0}.entry-content .clf-ig .ig-h{display:block;font-weight:700;color:#1f2d3d;margin:0 0 3px;font-size:1.02em;overflow-wrap:anywhere}.entry-content .clf-ig .ig-s{display:block;color:#6b5f4b;font-size:.86em;margin:4px 0 0}.entry-content .clf-ig .ig-red{background:#fdeeee;border-color:#c98585}.entry-content .clf-ig .ig-green{background:#eef6ee;border-color:#86a986}.entry-content .clf-ig .ig-blue{background:#eef3fa;border-color:#8aa3c4}.entry-content .clf-ig .ig-dark{background:#1f2d3d;border-color:#1f2d3d;color:#fff;text-align:center}.entry-content .clf-ig .ig-dark .ig-h{color:#fff;font-size:1.15em}.entry-content .clf-ig .ig-arrow{display:block;text-align:center;color:#8a7a5c;font-size:1.3em;line-height:1;margin:0 0 10px}.entry-content .clf-ig .ig-label{display:block;text-align:center;font-weight:700;color:#1f2d3d;font-size:.9em;margin:0 0 6px;overflow-wrap:anywhere}.entry-content .clf-ig .ig-step{display:inline-block;min-width:1.6em;padding:0 .35em;margin:0 .35em 0 0;border-radius:1em;background:#1f2d3d;color:#fff;font-size:.8em;text-align:center;line-height:1.6em}.entry-content .clf-ig ul.ig-list{margin:0;padding:0 0 0 1.1em;list-style:disc}.entry-content .clf-ig ul.ig-list li{margin:0 0 4px;padding:0;font-size:inherit;line-height:1.45}.entry-content .clf-ig .ig-note{display:block;font-size:.8em;line-height:1.4;color:#555;margin:4px 0 0}.entry-content .clf-ig .ig-cap{margin:10px 0 0;font-size:13px;color:#555;overflow-wrap:anywhere}<\/style><span class=\"ig-title\">Stamp offences in the BNS (formerly IPC 255\u2013263A)<\/span>\n<span class=\"ig-sub\">BNS section, old IPC section, maximum punishment and classification<\/span>\n<span class=\"ig-label\">Serious offences: cognizable, non-bailable, Court of Session<\/span>\n<div class=\"ig-grid\">\n<div class=\"ig-box ig-red\"><span class=\"ig-h\">178 \u2013 Counterfeiting<\/span>Making a fake revenue stamp, or any part of the process. Life or 10 years, and fine.<span class=\"ig-s\">Formerly 255 IPC<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ig-box ig-red\"><span class=\"ig-h\">179 \u2013 Selling or using<\/span>Buying, selling, trafficking or using a fake stamp as genuine. Life or 10 years, and fine.<span class=\"ig-s\">Formerly 258, 260 IPC<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ig-box ig-red\"><span class=\"ig-h\">180 \u2013 Possession<\/span>Keeping a fake stamp, meaning it to be used as genuine. 7 years, or fine, or both.<span class=\"ig-s\">Formerly 259 IPC<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ig-box ig-red\"><span class=\"ig-h\">181 \u2013 Tools and material<\/span>Making, selling or keeping dies, machines or material for fakes. Life or 10 years, and fine.<span class=\"ig-s\">Formerly 256, 257 IPC<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<span class=\"ig-arrow\">\u2193<\/span>\n<span class=\"ig-label\">Reuse and postage offences: cognizable, bailable, Magistrate<\/span>\n<div class=\"ig-grid\">\n<div class=\"ig-box\"><span class=\"ig-h\">183 \u2013 Cleaning stamp paper<\/span>Removing writing, or a used stamp, so the stamp can be reused. 3 years, or fine, or both.<span class=\"ig-s\">Formerly 261 IPC<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ig-box\"><span class=\"ig-h\">184 \u2013 Reusing a stamp<\/span>Knowingly using a used stamp, fraudulently or to cause loss. 2 years, or fine, or both.<span class=\"ig-s\">Formerly 262 IPC<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ig-box\"><span class=\"ig-h\">185 \u2013 Erasing the &#8220;used&#8221; mark<\/span>Removing the cancellation mark, or selling such stamps. 3 years, or fine, or both.<span class=\"ig-s\">Formerly 263 IPC<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ig-box\"><span class=\"ig-h\">186 \u2013 Fictitious stamps<\/span>Fake or imitation postage stamps. Fine up to \u20b9200; may be seized.<span class=\"ig-s\">Formerly 263A IPC<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ig-grid2\">\n<div class=\"ig-box ig-blue\"><span class=\"ig-h\">No compromise<\/span>None of these offences is in the compounding tables of Section 359 BNSS.<\/div>\n<div class=\"ig-box ig-green\"><span class=\"ig-h\">Stamp Act is separate<\/span>Unstamped instruments attract fines and penalty under the Indian Stamp Act, 1899.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"ig-cap\">Prepared by Century Law Firm from Sections 178 to 186 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the First Schedule and Section 359 of the BNSS, and Sections 255 to 263A of the repealed IPC (India Code texts).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What the new sections add<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Section 179 BNS punishes whoever &#8220;imports or exports, or sells or delivers to, or buys or receives from, any other person, or otherwise traffics or uses as genuine, any forged or counterfeit coin, stamp, currency-note or bank-note, knowing or having reason to believe the same to be forged or counterfeit&#8221;. Selling or knowingly using fake stamp paper now carries the counterfeiter&#8217;s maximum instead of seven years. Section 181 does the same for anyone who makes, sells or possesses &#8220;any machinery, die, or instrument or material&#8221; for counterfeiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Section 180 BNS (possession) covers a person &#8220;knowing or having reason to believe&#8221; the stamp to be fake, where Section 259 IPC required that he &#8220;knows&#8221; it; &#8220;reason to believe&#8221; means &#8220;sufficient cause to believe&#8221; (Section 2(29) BNS). It also adds a defence: &#8220;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.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bail, arrest, court and compromise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The First Schedule to the BNSS classifies each offence. &#8220;Cognizable&#8221; there &#8220;stands for &#8220;a police officer may arrest without warrant&#8221;&#8221;. For a bailable offence, the accused &#8220;shall be released on bail&#8221; on offering it (Section 478 BNSS). For a non-bailable offence, Section 480 BNSS says only that the person &#8220;may be released on bail&#8221;, and, before a court other than the High Court or a Court of Session, &#8220;shall not be so released if there appear reasonable grounds for believing that he has been guilty of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life&#8221;, subject to the provisos in that section. The High Court and the Court of Session have a separate power to direct that &#8220;any person accused of an offence and in custody be released on bail&#8221; (Section 483 BNSS). See the firm&#8217;s guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/get-bail-in-india\/\">bail in India<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under the First Schedule, Sections 178 to 181 are cognizable, non-bailable and triable by a Court of Session (see the infographic above). Sections 183 to 186 are cognizable and bailable; Sections 183 and 185 are triable by a Magistrate of the first class, and Sections 184 and 186 by any Magistrate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>No compromise.<\/strong> None of Sections 178 to 186 appears in either Table of Section 359 BNSS, and Section 359(9) says: &#8220;No offence shall be compounded except as provided by this section.&#8221; See the firm&#8217;s note on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/compoundable-and-non-compoundable-offences-explained\/\">compoundable and non-compoundable offences<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Time limit for prosecution.<\/strong> Section 514 BNSS bars a court from taking cognizance after six months for an offence punishable with fine only, and after three years for an offence punishable with imprisonment of more than one year but not more than three years. On those words, Section 186 has a six-month limit and Sections 183, 184 and 185 a three-year limit; Sections 178 to 181 have no limit under Section 514. The period runs from the date of the offence or, if the offence or the offender was not known, from the day it became known to the person aggrieved or the police (Section 515); offences tried together take the period of the most serious one (Section 514(3)); and a court may take cognizance after the period if &#8220;the delay has been properly explained or that it is necessary so to do in the interests of justice&#8221; (Section 519).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old or used stamp paper: what the law actually says<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether using an &#8220;old&#8221; stamp paper is a crime depends on whether it has been used before. The answer below rests only on the statutory texts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A stamp already used: Section 184 BNS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Section 184 BNS (formerly Section 262 IPC, with no change) reads: &#8220;Whoever, fraudulently or with intent to cause loss to the Government, uses for any purpose a stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, which he knows to have been before used, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.&#8221; &#8220;Fraudulently&#8221; means &#8220;doing anything with the intention to defraud but not otherwise&#8221; (Section 2(9) BNS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Preparing a used stamp for reuse is covered too: removing the writing from stamped paper, or a used stamp from a document, &#8220;in order that such stamp may be used for a different writing or document&#8221; (Section 183, formerly 261 IPC), and erasing the mark that shows a stamp &#8220;has been used&#8221; (Section 185, formerly 263 IPC). Each carries up to three years, or fine, or both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A second document on the same stamp paper: the Stamp Act<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apart from the BNS, the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 forbids reuse. Section 13 requires an instrument on paper with an impressed stamp to be written so that &#8220;the stamp may appear on the face of the instrument and cannot be used for or applied to any other instrument&#8221;. Section 14 says: &#8220;No second instrument chargeable with duty shall be written upon a piece of stamped paper upon which an instrument chargeable with duty has already been written&#8221;. By Section 15, an instrument written in breach of Section 13 or 14 &#8220;shall be deemed to be unstamped&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Unused stamp paper bought earlier<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Indian Stamp Act gives a refund for unused stamps &#8220;for which he has no immediate use&#8221; if they were bought with a bona fide intention to use them, the full price was paid, and they were &#8220;purchased within the period of six months next preceding the date on which they were so delivered&#8221; to the Collector, less ten paise per rupee (Section 54); that six-month period governs refunds. In the text of the central Act published on India Code, the firm found no section that fixes a date after which unused stamp paper becomes invalid. Section 74 lets each State Government make rules regulating the supply and sale of stamps and stamped papers; those State rules are not covered in this post, so check the rules of your State before relying on old stamp paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stamp Act penalties are separate from the BNS offences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not paying the right stamp duty is not counterfeiting. The Indian Stamp Act has its own consequences, listed below as they appear in the central Indian Stamp Act, 1899 published on India Code. That Act does not apply in full to the territories that formed Part B States before 1 November 1956 (proviso to Section 1(2)), and India Code prints State amendments under several sections, such as Uttar Pradesh&#8217;s changes to the penalty in Section 35 and to Section 62, so check the stamp law in force in your State:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Evidence:<\/strong> no instrument chargeable with duty &#8220;shall be admitted in evidence for any purpose&#8221; or be &#8220;acted upon, registered or authenticated&#8221; unless it is &#8220;duly stamped&#8221; (Section 35). Under proviso (a) it can be admitted on payment of the duty, or the deficit, together with a penalty of five rupees or ten times the duty or deficit, whichever is more.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Impounding:<\/strong> a person having authority to receive evidence, and a person in charge of a public office (other than a police officer), must impound an instrument that is not duly stamped (Section 33).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fines:<\/strong> executing or signing, otherwise than as a witness, an instrument chargeable with duty without its being duly stamped: fine up to \u20b9500 (Section 62(1)(b)); failure to cancel an adhesive stamp: fine up to \u20b9100 (Section 63); leaving out facts that affect duty, with intent to defraud: up to \u20b95,000 (Section 64). Some States have amended these (Uttar Pradesh, for example, adds imprisonment under Section 62).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sanction:<\/strong> no Stamp Act prosecution may be started &#8220;without the sanction of the Collector&#8221; or an authorised officer (Section 70).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For whether a document must also be registered, see the firm&#8217;s post on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/section-49-of-registration-act-1908-section-of-the-day\/\">Section 49 of the Registration Act, 1908<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Offences committed before 1 July 2024<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Section 358 BNS says that the repeal of the IPC does not affect any punishment incurred for offences committed against it, which &#8220;may be imposed as if that Code had not been repealed&#8221;. Article 20(1) of the Constitution also forbids a penalty &#8220;greater than that which might have been inflicted under the law in force at the time of the commission of the offence&#8221;. So a person accused of selling or using a counterfeit stamp before 1 July 2024 is dealt with under Section 258 or 260 IPC, with their seven-year maximum, not under the higher maximum of Section 179 BNS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Section 255 CrPC is a different provision (now Section 278 BNSS)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Section 255 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) dealt with &#8220;Acquittal or conviction&#8221; at the end of a summons-case trial before a Magistrate; it is now Section 278 BNSS, and the mapping data records &#8220;No change&#8221;. Under Section 278(1), if the Magistrate &#8220;finds the accused not guilty, he shall record an order of acquittal&#8221;; under Section 278(2), if he finds the accused guilty he shall &#8220;pass sentence upon him according to law&#8221;, unless he proceeds under Section 364 or 401 (reference to the Chief Judicial Magistrate, or release on probation or after admonition).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 255 IPC (\u0905\u092c \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 178 BNS) \u2013 \u0939\u093f\u0902\u0926\u0940 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0938\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0902\u0936 (Summary in Hindi)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>255 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0939\u0948?<\/strong> \u092d\u093e\u0930\u0924\u0940\u092f \u0926\u0902\u0921 \u0938\u0902\u0939\u093f\u0924\u093e (IPC) \u0915\u0940 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 255 \u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0915\u0947 \u0915\u0942\u091f\u0915\u0930\u0923 (\u0928\u0915\u0932\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u092c\u0928\u093e\u0928\u0947) \u0915\u094b \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927 \u092c\u0928\u093e\u0924\u0940 \u0925\u0940\u0964 1 \u091c\u0941\u0932\u093e\u0908 2024 \u0938\u0947 IPC \u0915\u0940 \u091c\u0917\u0939 \u092d\u093e\u0930\u0924\u0940\u092f \u0928\u094d\u092f\u093e\u092f \u0938\u0902\u0939\u093f\u0924\u093e, 2023 (BNS) \u0932\u093e\u0917\u0942 \u0939\u0948, \u0914\u0930 \u092f\u0939\u0940 \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927 \u0905\u092c BNS \u0915\u0940 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 178 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0939\u0948\u0964 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 178 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0938\u093f\u0915\u094d\u0915\u094b\u0902, \u0915\u0930\u0947\u0902\u0938\u0940 \u0928\u094b\u091f\u094b\u0902 \u0914\u0930 \u092c\u0948\u0902\u0915 \u0928\u094b\u091f\u094b\u0902 \u0915\u093e \u0915\u0942\u091f\u0915\u0930\u0923 \u092d\u0940 \u0936\u093e\u092e\u093f\u0932 \u0939\u0948\u0964 \u0938\u091c\u093c\u093e \u0935\u0939\u0940 \u0939\u0948: \u0906\u091c\u0940\u0935\u0928 \u0915\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0935\u093e\u0938, \u092f\u093e \u0926\u0938 \u0935\u0930\u094d\u0937 \u0924\u0915 \u0915\u093e \u0915\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0935\u093e\u0938, \u0914\u0930 \u091c\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092e\u093e\u0928\u093e\u0964<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 178 \u0915\u093e \u0906\u0927\u093f\u0915\u093e\u0930\u093f\u0915 \u0939\u093f\u0902\u0926\u0940 \u092a\u093e\u0920\u0964<\/strong> \u0930\u093e\u091c\u092a\u0924\u094d\u0930 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0936\u093f\u0924 BNS \u0915\u0947 \u0939\u093f\u0902\u0926\u0940 \u092a\u093e\u0920 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0905\u0927\u094d\u092f\u093e\u092f 10 \u0915\u093e \u0936\u0940\u0930\u094d\u0937\u0915 \u0939\u0948 &#8220;\u0938\u093f\u0915\u094d\u0915\u094b\u0902, \u0915\u0930\u0947\u0902\u0938\u0940 \u0928\u094b\u091f\u094b\u0902, \u092c\u0948\u0902\u0915 \u0928\u094b\u091f\u094b\u0902 \u0914\u0930 \u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a\u094b\u0902 \u0938\u0947 \u0938\u0902\u092c\u0902\u0927\u093f\u0924 \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927\u094b\u0902 \u0915\u0947 \u0935\u093f\u0937\u092f \u092e\u0947\u0902&#8221; \u0914\u0930 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 178 \u0915\u093e \u092a\u093e\u0930\u094d\u0936\u094d\u0935 \u0936\u0940\u0930\u094d\u0937\u0915 \u0939\u0948 &#8220;\u0938\u093f\u0915\u094d\u0915\u094b\u0902, \u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u0902\u092a\u094b\u0902, \u0915\u0930\u0947\u0902\u0938\u0940 \u0928\u094b\u091f\u094b\u0902 \u092f\u093e \u092c\u0948\u0902\u0915 \u0928\u094b\u091f\u094b\u0902 \u0915\u093e \u0915\u0942\u091f\u0915\u0930\u0923&#8221;\u0964 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 178 \u0915\u093e \u0906\u0927\u093f\u0915\u093e\u0930\u093f\u0915 \u0939\u093f\u0902\u0926\u0940 \u092a\u093e\u0920 \u0939\u0948: &#8220;\u091c\u094b \u0915\u094b\u0908, \u0915\u093f\u0938\u0940 \u0938\u093f\u0915\u094d\u0915\u0947, \u0930\u093e\u091c\u0938\u094d\u0935 \u0915\u0947 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u092f\u094b\u091c\u0928 \u0915\u0947 \u0932\u093f\u090f \u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930 \u0926\u094d\u0935\u093e\u0930\u093e \u091c\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0915\u093f\u090f \u0917\u092f\u0947 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a, \u0915\u0930\u0947\u0902\u0938\u0940 \u0928\u094b\u091f \u092f\u093e \u092c\u0948\u0902\u0915 \u0928\u094b\u091f \u0915\u093e \u0915\u0942\u091f\u0915\u0930\u0923 \u0915\u0930\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948 \u092f\u093e \u092f\u0939 \u091c\u093e\u0928\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0941\u090f \u0915\u0942\u091f\u0915\u0930\u0923 \u0915\u0940 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0915\u094d\u0930\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0915\u0947 \u0915\u093f\u0938\u0940 \u092d\u093e\u0917 \u0915\u093e \u0938\u0902\u092a\u093e\u0926\u0928 \u0915\u0930\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948, \u0935\u0939 \u0906\u091c\u0940\u0935\u0928 \u0915\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0935\u093e\u0938 \u0938\u0947 \u092f\u093e \u0926\u094b\u0928\u094b\u0902 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0938\u0947 \u0915\u093f\u0938\u0940 \u092d\u093e\u0902\u0924\u093f \u0915\u0947 \u0915\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0935\u093e\u0938 \u0938\u0947, \u091c\u093f\u0938\u0915\u0940 \u0905\u0935\u0927\u093f \u0926\u0938 \u0935\u0930\u094d\u0937 \u0924\u0915 \u0915\u0940 \u0939\u094b \u0938\u0915\u0947\u0917\u0940, \u0926\u0902\u0921\u093f\u0924 \u0915\u093f\u092f\u093e \u091c\u093e\u090f\u0917\u093e \u0914\u0930 \u091c\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092e\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u093e \u092d\u0940 \u0926\u093e\u092f\u0940 \u0939\u094b\u0917\u093e\u0964&#8221; (\u0907\u0902\u0921\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0915\u094b\u0921 \u092a\u0930 \u0909\u092a\u0932\u092c\u094d\u0927 \u0939\u093f\u0902\u0926\u0940 PDF \u0915\u093e \u091f\u0947\u0915\u094d\u0938\u094d\u091f \u092a\u0922\u093c\u0928\u0947 \u092f\u094b\u0917\u094d\u092f \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0939\u0948, \u0907\u0938\u0932\u093f\u090f \u092f\u0939 \u092a\u093e\u0920 \u0909\u0938\u0915\u0947 \u092a\u0943\u0937\u094d\u0920 \u0915\u0940 \u091b\u0935\u093f \u0938\u0947 \u092a\u0922\u093c\u0915\u0930 \u0932\u093f\u0916\u093e \u0917\u092f\u093e \u0939\u0948\u0964)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u0905\u0902\u0915\u093f\u0924 \u092e\u0942\u0932\u094d\u092f \u092c\u0926\u0932\u0928\u093e \u092d\u0940 \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927\u0964<\/strong> \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 178 \u0915\u0947 \u0938\u094d\u092a\u0937\u094d\u091f\u0940\u0915\u0930\u0923 \u0915\u0947 \u0916\u0902\u0921 (3) \u0915\u0947 \u0905\u0928\u0941\u0938\u093e\u0930, \u0915\u094b\u0908 \u0935\u094d\u092f\u0915\u094d\u0924\u093f &#8220;\u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0915\u0942\u091f\u0915\u0930\u0923&#8221; \u0915\u093e \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927 \u0915\u0930\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948, \u091c\u094b \u090f\u0915 \u0905\u0902\u0915\u093f\u0924 \u092e\u0942\u0932\u094d\u092f \u0915\u0947 \u0905\u0938\u0932\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0915\u094b \u0915\u093f\u0938\u0940 \u092d\u093f\u0928\u094d\u0928 \u0905\u0902\u0915\u093f\u0924 \u092e\u0942\u0932\u094d\u092f \u0915\u0947 \u0905\u0938\u0932\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u091c\u0948\u0938\u093e \u0926\u093f\u0916\u093e\u0908 \u0926\u0947\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u093e \u0915\u0942\u091f\u0915\u0930\u0923 \u0915\u0930\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948\u0964 \u092f\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u0905\u0938\u0932\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u092a\u0930 \u0909\u0938\u0915\u093e \u092e\u0942\u0932\u094d\u092f \u092c\u0926\u0932\u0915\u0930 \u0909\u0938\u0947 \u0926\u0942\u0938\u0930\u0947 \u092e\u0942\u0932\u094d\u092f \u0915\u093e \u0926\u093f\u0916\u093e\u0928\u093e \u092d\u0940 \u0907\u0938\u0940 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u093e \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927 \u0939\u0948\u0964 \u0928\u0915\u0932 \u0915\u093e \u092c\u093f\u0932\u094d\u0915\u0941\u0932 \u0938\u091f\u0940\u0915 \u0939\u094b\u0928\u093e \u091c\u093c\u0930\u0942\u0930\u0940 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0939\u0948 (\u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 2(4) BNS, \u0938\u094d\u092a\u0937\u094d\u091f\u0940\u0915\u0930\u0923 1)\u0964<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u091c\u093c\u092e\u093e\u0928\u0924 \u0914\u0930 \u0905\u0926\u093e\u0932\u0924\u0964<\/strong> BNSS \u0915\u0940 \u092a\u0939\u0932\u0940 \u0905\u0928\u0941\u0938\u0942\u091a\u0940 \u0915\u0947 \u0905\u0928\u0941\u0938\u093e\u0930 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 178 \u0915\u093e \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927 \u0938\u0902\u091c\u094d\u091e\u0947\u092f \u0939\u0948 (\u092a\u0941\u0932\u093f\u0938 \u092c\u093f\u0928\u093e \u0935\u093e\u0930\u0902\u091f \u0917\u093f\u0930\u092b\u093c\u094d\u0924\u093e\u0930 \u0915\u0930 \u0938\u0915\u0924\u0940 \u0939\u0948), \u0905\u091c\u092e\u093e\u0928\u0924\u0940\u092f \u0939\u0948 \u0914\u0930 \u0907\u0938\u0915\u093e \u0935\u093f\u091a\u093e\u0930\u0923 \u0938\u0947\u0936\u0928 \u0928\u094d\u092f\u093e\u092f\u093e\u0932\u092f \u0915\u0930\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948\u0964 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 359 BNSS \u0915\u0940 \u0938\u093e\u0930\u0923\u093f\u092f\u094b\u0902 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u092f\u0939 \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0939\u0948, \u0907\u0938\u0932\u093f\u090f \u092a\u0915\u094d\u0937\u0915\u093e\u0930 \u0906\u092a\u0938 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0938\u092e\u091d\u094c\u0924\u093e \u0915\u0930\u0915\u0947 \u092e\u093e\u092e\u0932\u093e \u0916\u093c\u0924\u094d\u092e \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0915\u0930 \u0938\u0915\u0924\u0947\u0964<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0938\u0947 \u091c\u0941\u0921\u093c\u0947 \u0905\u0928\u094d\u092f \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927 (\u092b\u0930\u094d\u092e \u0915\u093e \u0938\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0902\u0936)\u0964<\/strong> \u0928\u0915\u0932\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0915\u094b \u092f\u0939 \u091c\u093e\u0928\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0941\u090f \u092f\u093e \u092f\u0939 \u0935\u093f\u0936\u094d\u0935\u093e\u0938 \u0915\u093e \u0915\u093e\u0930\u0923 \u0930\u0916\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0941\u090f \u0915\u093f \u0935\u0939 \u0928\u0915\u0932\u0940 \u0939\u0948, \u092c\u0947\u091a\u0928\u093e, \u0916\u093c\u0930\u0940\u0926\u0928\u093e \u092f\u093e \u0905\u0938\u0932\u0940 \u0915\u0947 \u0930\u0942\u092a \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0909\u092a\u092f\u094b\u0917 \u0915\u0930\u0928\u093e \u0905\u092c \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 179 BNS (\u092a\u0939\u0932\u0947 258 \u0914\u0930 260 IPC) \u0939\u0948, \u0914\u0930 \u0928\u0915\u0932\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u092c\u0928\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u0940 \u092e\u0936\u0940\u0928, \u0921\u093e\u0908 \u092f\u093e \u0938\u093e\u092e\u0917\u094d\u0930\u0940 \u092c\u0928\u093e\u0928\u093e, \u092c\u0947\u091a\u0928\u093e \u092f\u093e \u0930\u0916\u0928\u093e \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 181 BNS (\u092a\u0939\u0932\u0947 256 \u0914\u0930 257 IPC) \u0939\u0948; \u0926\u094b\u0928\u094b\u0902 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0906\u091c\u0940\u0935\u0928 \u0915\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0935\u093e\u0938 \u092f\u093e \u0926\u0938 \u0935\u0930\u094d\u0937 \u0924\u0915 \u0915\u093e \u0915\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0935\u093e\u0938 \u0914\u0930 \u091c\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092e\u093e\u0928\u093e \u0939\u094b \u0938\u0915\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948\u0964 \u0928\u0915\u0932\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0915\u094b \u0905\u0938\u0932\u0940 \u0915\u0947 \u0930\u0942\u092a \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u091a\u0932\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u0947 \u0906\u0936\u092f \u0938\u0947 \u0915\u092c\u094d\u091c\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0930\u0916\u0928\u093e \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 180 BNS (\u092a\u0939\u0932\u0947 259 IPC) \u0939\u0948 \u2013 \u0938\u093e\u0924 \u0935\u0930\u094d\u0937 \u0924\u0915, \u092f\u093e \u091c\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092e\u093e\u0928\u093e, \u092f\u093e \u0926\u094b\u0928\u094b\u0902; \u092a\u0930 \u0905\u0917\u0930 \u0935\u094d\u092f\u0915\u094d\u0924\u093f \u0938\u093e\u092c\u093f\u0924 \u0915\u0930 \u0926\u0947 \u0915\u093f \u0915\u092c\u094d\u091c\u093e \u0935\u093f\u0927\u093f\u092a\u0942\u0930\u094d\u0923 \u0938\u094d\u0930\u094b\u0924 \u0938\u0947 \u0939\u0948, \u0924\u094b \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u092c\u0928\u0924\u093e\u0964 \u0915\u092a\u091f\u092a\u0942\u0930\u094d\u0935\u0915 \u092f\u093e \u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930 \u0915\u094b \u0939\u093e\u0928\u093f \u092a\u0939\u0941\u0902\u091a\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u0947 \u0906\u0936\u092f \u0938\u0947 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u092a\u0947\u092a\u0930 \u0938\u0947 \u0932\u093f\u0916\u093e\u0935\u091f \u092e\u093f\u091f\u093e\u0928\u093e \u092f\u093e &#8220;\u0909\u092a\u092f\u094b\u0917 \u0939\u094b \u091a\u0941\u0915\u093e&#8221; \u091a\u093f\u0939\u094d\u0928 \u0939\u091f\u093e\u0928\u093e \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e\u090f\u0902 183 \u0914\u0930 185 BNS \u0939\u0948\u0902 (\u0924\u0940\u0928 \u0935\u0930\u094d\u0937 \u0924\u0915 \u0915\u093e \u0915\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0935\u093e\u0938, \u092f\u093e \u091c\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092e\u093e\u0928\u093e, \u092f\u093e \u0926\u094b\u0928\u094b\u0902), \u0914\u0930 \u0928\u0915\u0932\u0940 \u0921\u093e\u0915 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 186 BNS \u0939\u0948 (\u0926\u094b \u0938\u094c \u0930\u0941\u092a\u092f\u0947 \u0924\u0915 \u091c\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092e\u093e\u0928\u093e)\u0964<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u092a\u0941\u0930\u093e\u0928\u093e \u092f\u093e \u0907\u0938\u094d\u0924\u0947\u092e\u093e\u0932 \u0939\u094b \u091a\u0941\u0915\u093e \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u092a\u0947\u092a\u0930\u0964<\/strong> \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 184 BNS (\u092a\u0939\u0932\u0947 262 IPC) \u0915\u093e \u0906\u0927\u093f\u0915\u093e\u0930\u093f\u0915 \u092a\u093e\u0930\u094d\u0936\u094d\u0935 \u0936\u0940\u0930\u094d\u0937\u0915 \u0939\u0948 &#8220;\u0910\u0938\u0947 \u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0915\u093e \u0909\u092a\u092f\u094b\u0917, \u091c\u093f\u0938\u0915\u0947 \u092c\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u091c\u094d\u091e\u093e\u0924 \u0939\u0948 \u0915\u093f \u0909\u0938\u0915\u093e \u092a\u0939\u0932\u0947 \u0909\u092a\u092f\u094b\u0917 \u0939\u094b \u091a\u0941\u0915\u093e \u0939\u0948&#8221;\u0964 \u0907\u0938\u0915\u093e \u092a\u093e\u0920 \u0939\u0948: &#8220;\u091c\u094b \u0915\u094b\u0908, \u0915\u092a\u091f\u092a\u0942\u0930\u094d\u0935\u0915 \u092f\u093e \u0907\u0938 \u0906\u0936\u092f \u0938\u0947 \u0915\u093f \u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930 \u0915\u094b \u0939\u093e\u0928\u093f \u0915\u093e\u0930\u093f\u0924 \u0915\u0940 \u091c\u093e\u090f, \u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930 \u0926\u094d\u0935\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0930\u093e\u091c\u0938\u094d\u0935 \u0915\u0947 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u092f\u094b\u091c\u0928 \u0915\u0947 \u0932\u093f\u090f \u091c\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0915\u093f\u0938\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0915\u094b, \u091c\u093f\u0938\u0915\u0947 \u092c\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0935\u0939 \u091c\u093e\u0928\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948 \u0915\u093f \u0935\u0939 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0909\u0938\u0938\u0947 \u092a\u0939\u0932\u0947 \u0909\u092a\u092f\u094b\u0917 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0932\u093e\u092f\u093e \u091c\u093e \u091a\u0941\u0915\u093e \u0939\u0948, \u0915\u093f\u0938\u0940 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u092f\u094b\u091c\u0928 \u0915\u0947 \u0932\u093f\u090f \u0909\u092a\u092f\u094b\u0917 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0932\u093e\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948, \u0935\u0939 \u0926\u094b\u0928\u094b\u0902 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0938\u0947 \u0915\u093f\u0938\u0940 \u092d\u093e\u0902\u0924\u093f \u0915\u0947 \u0915\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0935\u093e\u0938 \u0938\u0947, \u091c\u093f\u0938\u0915\u0940 \u0905\u0935\u0927\u093f \u0926\u094b \u0935\u0930\u094d\u0937 \u0924\u0915 \u0915\u0940 \u0939\u094b \u0938\u0915\u0947\u0917\u0940, \u092f\u093e \u091c\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092e\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0938\u0947, \u092f\u093e \u0926\u094b\u0928\u094b\u0902 \u0938\u0947, \u0926\u0902\u0921\u093f\u0924 \u0915\u093f\u092f\u093e \u091c\u093e\u090f\u0917\u093e\u0964&#8221; \u092f\u0939 \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927 \u091c\u092e\u093e\u0928\u0924\u0940\u092f \u0939\u0948 \u0914\u0930 \u0915\u094b\u0908 \u092d\u0940 \u092e\u091c\u093f\u0938\u094d\u091f\u094d\u0930\u0947\u091f \u0907\u0938\u0915\u093e \u0935\u093f\u091a\u093e\u0930\u0923 \u0915\u0930 \u0938\u0915\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948\u0964 \u092d\u093e\u0930\u0924\u0940\u092f \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0905\u0927\u093f\u0928\u093f\u092f\u092e, 1899 \u0915\u0940 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 14 \u0915\u0947 \u0905\u0928\u0941\u0938\u093e\u0930 \u091c\u093f\u0938 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u092a\u0947\u092a\u0930 \u092a\u0930 \u0936\u0941\u0932\u094d\u0915-\u092f\u094b\u0917\u094d\u092f \u090f\u0915 \u0932\u093f\u0916\u0924 \u0932\u093f\u0916\u0940 \u091c\u093e \u091a\u0941\u0915\u0940 \u0939\u0948, \u0909\u0938 \u092a\u0930 \u0926\u0942\u0938\u0930\u0940 \u0936\u0941\u0932\u094d\u0915-\u092f\u094b\u0917\u094d\u092f \u0932\u093f\u0916\u0924 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0932\u093f\u0916\u0940 \u091c\u093e \u0938\u0915\u0924\u0940 (\u092a\u0943\u0937\u094d\u0920\u093e\u0902\u0915\u0928 \u091c\u0948\u0938\u0947 \u0915\u0941\u091b \u0905\u092a\u0935\u093e\u0926 \u0939\u0948\u0902), \u0914\u0930 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 15 \u0915\u0947 \u0905\u0928\u0941\u0938\u093e\u0930 \u0910\u0938\u0940 \u0932\u093f\u0916\u0924 \u092c\u093f\u0928\u093e \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0915\u0940 \u092e\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u091c\u093e\u0924\u0940 \u0939\u0948\u0964 \u092f\u0947 \u0915\u0947\u0902\u0926\u094d\u0930\u0940\u092f \u0905\u0927\u093f\u0928\u093f\u092f\u092e \u0915\u0947 \u0928\u093f\u092f\u092e \u0939\u0948\u0902; \u092f\u0939 \u0905\u0927\u093f\u0928\u093f\u092f\u092e \u0915\u0941\u091b \u0915\u094d\u0937\u0947\u0924\u094d\u0930\u094b\u0902 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u092a\u0942\u0930\u0940 \u0924\u0930\u0939 \u0932\u093e\u0917\u0942 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0939\u094b\u0924\u093e (\u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 1(2)) \u0914\u0930 \u0915\u0908 \u0930\u093e\u091c\u094d\u092f\u094b\u0902 \u0928\u0947 \u0907\u0938\u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0938\u0902\u0936\u094b\u0927\u0928 \u0915\u093f\u090f \u0939\u0948\u0902, \u0907\u0938\u0932\u093f\u090f \u0905\u092a\u0928\u0947 \u0930\u093e\u091c\u094d\u092f \u0915\u093e \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0915\u093e\u0928\u0942\u0928 \u0926\u0947\u0916\u0947\u0902\u0964 (\u092f\u0939 \u092b\u0930\u094d\u092e \u0915\u093e \u0938\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0902\u0936 \u0939\u0948; \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0905\u0927\u093f\u0928\u093f\u092f\u092e \u0915\u093e \u0939\u093f\u0902\u0926\u0940 \u092a\u093e\u0920 \u0907\u0938 \u0932\u0947\u0916 \u0915\u0947 \u0932\u093f\u090f \u0909\u092a\u092f\u094b\u0917 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0915\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0917\u092f\u093e\u0964)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1 \u091c\u0941\u0932\u093e\u0908 2024 \u0938\u0947 \u092a\u0939\u0932\u0947 \u0915\u0947 \u092e\u093e\u092e\u0932\u0947\u0964<\/strong> \u0909\u0938 \u0924\u093e\u0930\u0940\u0916\u093c \u0938\u0947 \u092a\u0939\u0932\u0947 \u0915\u093f\u090f \u0917\u090f \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927\u094b\u0902 \u092a\u0930 IPC \u0939\u0940 \u0932\u093e\u0917\u0942 \u0930\u0939\u0924\u0940 \u0939\u0948 (\u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 358 BNS), \u0914\u0930 \u0938\u0902\u0935\u093f\u0927\u093e\u0928 \u0915\u0947 \u0905\u0928\u0941\u091a\u094d\u091b\u0947\u0926 20(1) \u0915\u0947 \u0905\u0928\u0941\u0938\u093e\u0930 \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927 \u0915\u0947 \u0938\u092e\u092f \u0915\u0947 \u0915\u093e\u0928\u0942\u0928 \u0938\u0947 \u091c\u093c\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0926\u093e \u0938\u091c\u093c\u093e \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0926\u0940 \u091c\u093e \u0938\u0915\u0924\u0940\u0964<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u0927\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0928 \u0926\u0947\u0902:<\/strong> &#8220;\u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 255 CrPC&#8221; \u090f\u0915 \u0905\u0932\u0917 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u093e\u0935\u0927\u093e\u0928 \u0939\u0948\u0964 \u092f\u0939 \u0938\u092e\u0928-\u092e\u093e\u092e\u0932\u0947 \u0915\u0947 \u0935\u093f\u091a\u093e\u0930\u0923 \u0915\u0947 \u0905\u0902\u0924 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0926\u094b\u0937\u092e\u0941\u0915\u094d\u0924\u093f \u092f\u093e \u0926\u094b\u0937\u0938\u093f\u0926\u094d\u0927\u093f \u0938\u0947 \u0938\u0902\u092c\u0902\u0927\u093f\u0924 \u0925\u0940 \u0914\u0930 \u0905\u092c BNSS \u0915\u0940 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 278 \u0939\u0948\u0964<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is Section 255 IPC?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Section 255 of the Indian Penal Code punished whoever &#8220;counterfeits, or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting, any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue&#8221;, with imprisonment for life, or up to ten years, and fine. Making a genuine stamp of one denomination look like one of another denomination was also counterfeiting. Since 1 July 2024 the offence is Section 178 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-2\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is the BNS equivalent of Section 255 IPC?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Section 178 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, headed &#8220;Counterfeiting coin, Government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes&#8221;. It covers in a single provision the counterfeiting of coins, stamps issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, currency-notes and bank-notes, replacing nine IPC sections (230 to 232, 246 to 249, 255 and 489A). The punishment is the same as under Section 255 IPC: imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description (rigorous or simple) up to ten years, and fine.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-3\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is counterfeiting a Government stamp a bailable offence?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No. The First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 shows Section 178 BNS as cognizable and non-bailable, triable by a Court of Session. Cognizable means that the police may arrest without a warrant. Because the offence is non-bailable, Section 480 BNSS says only that the accused &#8220;may be released on bail&#8221;, so release depends on the court; the Court of Session and the High Court can grant bail under Section 483 BNSS. Sections 179, 180 and 181 have the same classification.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-4\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is using an old stamp paper for a new document a crime?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">It depends on whether the stamp has been used before. Section 184 BNS (formerly Section 262 IPC) punishes whoever, &#8220;fraudulently or with intent to cause loss to the Government&#8221;, uses a revenue stamp &#8220;which he knows to have been before used&#8221;, with up to two years, or fine, or both. Under the central Indian Stamp Act, 1899, no second dutiable instrument may be written on stamped paper that already carries one (Section 14), and such an instrument &#8220;shall be deemed to be unstamped&#8221; (Section 15). For unused stamp paper, that Act&#8217;s text on India Code fixes no date after which it becomes invalid, but State rules (Section 74), State amendments and Section 1(2) may change the position in your State.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-5\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What does &#8220;counterfeit&#8221; mean in the BNS?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Section 2(4) BNS (formerly Section 28 IPC) says a person counterfeits who &#8220;causes one thing to resemble another thing, intending by means of that resemblance to practise deception, or knowing it to be likely that deception will thereby be practised.&#8221; The imitation need not be exact, and where a person might be deceived by the resemblance, intent to deceive is presumed until the contrary is proved (Explanations 1 and 2).<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-6\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is changing the value printed on a genuine stamp counterfeiting?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes. Clause (3) of the Explanation to Section 178 BNS says that a person commits the offence of &#8220;counterfeiting Government stamp&#8221; who counterfeits &#8220;by causing a genuine stamp of one denomination to appear like a genuine stamp of a different denomination&#8221;. The same rule was in the Explanation to Section 255 IPC.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-7\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is the punishment for selling or using fake stamp paper?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Section 179 BNS punishes whoever buys, sells, delivers, imports, exports, otherwise traffics in, or &#8220;uses as genuine&#8221; a forged or counterfeit stamp, &#8220;knowing or having reason to believe the same to be forged or counterfeit&#8221;. The punishment is imprisonment for life, or up to ten years, and fine; the offence is cognizable, non-bailable and tried by a Court of Session. For acts before 1 July 2024, the seven-year maximum of Sections 258 and 260 IPC applies.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-8\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is merely having fake stamps in one&#8217;s possession an offence?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes, if the person knows or has reason to believe they are forged or counterfeit and intends that they be used as genuine. Section 180 BNS (formerly Section 259 IPC) punishes such possession with up to seven years, or fine, or both; it is cognizable and non-bailable. It is not an offence if the person &#8220;establishes the possession &#8230; to be from a lawful source&#8221; (Explanation to Section 180).<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-9\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What if someone erases the writing on a used stamp paper to use it again?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Section 183 BNS (formerly Section 261 IPC) punishes whoever, fraudulently or with intent to cause loss to the Government, removes or effaces from a substance bearing a revenue stamp the writing for which the stamp was used, or removes a used stamp from a document, &#8220;in order that such stamp may be used for a different writing or document&#8221;. The punishment is up to three years, or fine, or both. It is cognizable, bailable and triable by a Magistrate of the first class.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-10\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can a stamp-counterfeiting case be compromised?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No. Sections 178 to 186 BNS do not appear in either Table of compoundable offences in Section 359 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and Section 359(9) says: &#8220;No offence shall be compounded except as provided by this section.&#8221; A private settlement does not end the case.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-11\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What are fictitious stamps under Section 186 BNS?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A &#8220;fictitious stamp&#8221; is any stamp &#8220;falsely purporting to be issued by Government for the purpose of denoting a rate of postage&#8221;, or any imitation of such a stamp (Section 186(3) BNS, formerly Section 263A IPC). Making, uttering, dealing in or selling one, knowingly using one for a postal purpose, or possessing one (or dies and materials for making one) without lawful excuse is punishable with fine up to two hundred rupees; the stamps and dies may be seized and, if seized, are forfeited (Section 186(2)).<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-12\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What happens to a document that is not properly stamped?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Under Section 35 of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, an instrument chargeable with duty cannot be admitted in evidence, acted upon or registered unless it is &#8220;duly stamped&#8221;. It can be admitted on payment of the duty or deficit with a penalty of five rupees or ten times the duty or deficit, whichever is more (central Act; Uttar Pradesh, for example, has amended this penalty). Courts and public offices (other than the police) must impound it (Section 33).<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-13\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is Section 255 CrPC, and is it the same as Section 255 IPC?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No. Section 255 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 dealt with &#8220;Acquittal or conviction&#8221; in a summons-case trial before a Magistrate, and is now Section 278 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, with no change: the Magistrate records an acquittal if he finds the accused not guilty, and passes sentence according to law if he finds him guilty. Section 255 IPC was the stamp-counterfeiting offence.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-14\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">255 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0939\u0948? (Section 255 IPC in Hindi)<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">IPC \u0915\u0940 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 255 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0915\u0947 \u0915\u0942\u091f\u0915\u0930\u0923 \u0915\u093e \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927 \u0925\u093e, \u092f\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u0930\u093e\u091c\u0938\u094d\u0935 \u0915\u0947 \u0932\u093f\u090f \u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930 \u0926\u094d\u0935\u093e\u0930\u093e \u091c\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0915\u094b \u0928\u0915\u0932\u0940 \u092c\u0928\u093e\u0928\u093e \u092f\u093e \u091c\u093e\u0928\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0941\u090f \u0909\u0938\u0915\u0940 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0915\u094d\u0930\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0915\u093e \u0915\u094b\u0908 \u092d\u093e\u0917 \u0915\u0930\u0928\u093e\u0964 1 \u091c\u0941\u0932\u093e\u0908 2024 \u0938\u0947 \u092f\u0939 \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927 \u092d\u093e\u0930\u0924\u0940\u092f \u0928\u094d\u092f\u093e\u092f \u0938\u0902\u0939\u093f\u0924\u093e \u0915\u0940 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 178 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0939\u0948\u0964 \u0938\u091c\u093c\u093e \u0906\u091c\u0940\u0935\u0928 \u0915\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0935\u093e\u0938 \u092f\u093e \u0926\u0938 \u0935\u0930\u094d\u0937 \u0924\u0915 \u0915\u093e \u0915\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0935\u093e\u0938 \u0914\u0930 \u091c\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092e\u093e\u0928\u093e \u0939\u0948\u0964 \u092f\u0939 \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927 \u0938\u0902\u091c\u094d\u091e\u0947\u092f \u0914\u0930 \u0905\u091c\u092e\u093e\u0928\u0924\u0940\u092f \u0939\u0948, \u0907\u0938\u0915\u093e \u0935\u093f\u091a\u093e\u0930\u0923 \u0938\u0947\u0936\u0928 \u0928\u094d\u092f\u093e\u092f\u093e\u0932\u092f \u0915\u0930\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948 \u0914\u0930 \u0907\u0938\u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0938\u092e\u091d\u094c\u0924\u093e \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0939\u094b \u0938\u0915\u0924\u093e\u0964<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-15\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">\u092a\u0941\u0930\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u092a\u0947\u092a\u0930 \u0915\u093e \u0909\u092a\u092f\u094b\u0917 \u0915\u0930\u0928\u093e \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927 \u0939\u0948?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">\u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 184 BNS \u0915\u0947 \u0905\u0928\u0941\u0938\u093e\u0930, \u091c\u094b \u0915\u094b\u0908 \u0915\u092a\u091f\u092a\u0942\u0930\u094d\u0935\u0915 \u092f\u093e \u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930 \u0915\u094b \u0939\u093e\u0928\u093f \u092a\u0939\u0941\u0902\u091a\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u0947 \u0906\u0936\u092f \u0938\u0947 \u0910\u0938\u0947 \u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0915\u093e \u0909\u092a\u092f\u094b\u0917 \u0915\u0930\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948, \u091c\u093f\u0938\u0915\u0947 \u092c\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0935\u0939 \u091c\u093e\u0928\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948 \u0915\u093f \u0909\u0938\u0915\u093e \u092a\u0939\u0932\u0947 \u0909\u092a\u092f\u094b\u0917 \u0939\u094b \u091a\u0941\u0915\u093e \u0939\u0948, \u0909\u0938\u0947 \u0926\u094b \u0935\u0930\u094d\u0937 \u0924\u0915 \u0915\u093e \u0915\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0935\u093e\u0938, \u092f\u093e \u091c\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092e\u093e\u0928\u093e, \u092f\u093e \u0926\u094b\u0928\u094b\u0902 \u0939\u094b \u0938\u0915\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902\u0964 \u092d\u093e\u0930\u0924\u0940\u092f \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0905\u0927\u093f\u0928\u093f\u092f\u092e \u0915\u0940 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 14 \u0915\u0947 \u0905\u0928\u0941\u0938\u093e\u0930 \u091c\u093f\u0938 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u092a\u0947\u092a\u0930 \u092a\u0930 \u0936\u0941\u0932\u094d\u0915-\u092f\u094b\u0917\u094d\u092f \u090f\u0915 \u0932\u093f\u0916\u0924 \u0932\u093f\u0916\u0940 \u091c\u093e \u091a\u0941\u0915\u0940 \u0939\u0948, \u0909\u0938 \u092a\u0930 \u0926\u0942\u0938\u0930\u0940 \u0936\u0941\u0932\u094d\u0915-\u092f\u094b\u0917\u094d\u092f \u0932\u093f\u0916\u0924 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0932\u093f\u0916\u0940 \u091c\u093e \u0938\u0915\u0924\u0940\u0964 \u092c\u093f\u0928\u093e \u0909\u092a\u092f\u094b\u0917 \u0935\u093e\u0932\u0947 \u092a\u0941\u0930\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u092a\u0947\u092a\u0930 \u0915\u0947 \u0932\u093f\u090f \u0930\u093e\u091c\u094d\u092f \u0915\u0947 \u0928\u093f\u092f\u092e \u092d\u0940 \u0926\u0947\u0916\u0947\u0902 (\u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 74)\u0964 \u092f\u0939 \u092b\u0930\u094d\u092e \u0915\u093e \u0938\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0902\u0936 \u0939\u0948\u0964<\/p> <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Section 255 IPC is now Section 178 BNS, with the same offence and the same punishment: imprisonment for life or up to ten years, and fine, for counterfeiting a revenue stamp or knowingly doing any part of it. It is cognizable, non-bailable, tried by a Court of Session and cannot be compromised. The change is around it: selling, using and making the tools for fake stamps now carry the same maximum, while reuse of used stamps and fictitious postage stamps keep their lower punishments. Underpaying stamp duty is a separate matter under the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, and acts done before 1 July 2024 remain under the IPC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sources used for this post: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Sections 2(4), 2(9), 2(12), 2(29), 4(c), 178 to 186 and 358, including the Gazette Hindi text of Sections 178 to 180 and 184 (India Code, English text as on 6 October 2025, BNS checked as current on 23 October 2026; Hindi text Hh202345.pdf); the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Sections 278, 359, 364, 401, 478, 480, 483, 514, 515 and 519 and the First Schedule (India Code, as on 6 October 2025); the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (repealed), Sections 255 to 263A (India Code copy); the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, Sections 1(2), 2(13), 2(26), 13 to 15, 33, 35 (with the Uttar Pradesh amendment printed under it), 54, 62 to 64, 70 and 74 (India Code, a1899-2_.pdf, no &#8220;as on&#8221; date; latest amendment printed: 2024); Article 20(1) of the Constitution of India (Legislative Department, English edition of 2026); and the firm&#8217;s Gazette-checked IPC\u2013BNS and CrPC\u2013BNSS mapping data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"clf-related\" style=\"margin:28px 0 8px;padding:16px 20px;border:1px solid #e3e3e3;border-radius:6px;background:#fafafa\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:700\">Related reading and free tools<\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:20px\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-code-comparison-tool\/\">IPC to BNS, CrPC to BNSS: Section Comparison Tool<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/section-49-of-registration-act-1908-section-of-the-day\/\">Section 49 of the Registration Act, 1908<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/indias-2023-legal-reforms-bharatiya-nagarik-suraksha-sanhita-bnss-bharatiya-nyaya-sanhita-bns-and-bharatiya-sakshya-sanhita-bss\/\">BNS, BNSS and BSA: Full Form and Overview<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/get-bail-in-india\/\">Bail in India<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/compoundable-and-non-compoundable-offences-explained\/\">Compoundable and Non-compoundable Offences<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/understanding-the-process-of-making-a-police-complaint-in-india-a-guide-for-commoners\/\">How to File a Police Complaint and FIR in India<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-272-ipc\/\">Section 272 IPC: Adulteration of Food or Drink<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/section-304a-of-ipc-section-of-the-day\/\">Section 304A IPC (Now Section 106 BNS)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/court-fee-and-jurisdiction-calculator-online\/\">Court Fee and Jurisdiction Calculator<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-sections-explained\/\">Legal Sections Explained<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Section 255 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punished counterfeiting a Government stamp: &#8220;Whoever counterfeits, or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting, any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue&#8221; could be sentenced to imprisonment for life, or to imprisonment of up to ten years, and was also liable to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1289,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1663,1581],"tags":[1582,1583],"class_list":["post-1292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipc-indian-penal-code-1860","category-legal-section-of-the-day","tag-legal-sections","tag-section-of-the-day"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Section 255 IPC in Hindi (Now 178 BNS): Punishment and Bail<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Section 255 IPC (\u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 255) is now Section 178 BNS: counterfeiting a Government stamp, life or up to 10 years and fine, non-bailable. 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Fake and used stamps.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Century Law Firm Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Century-Law-Firm-103762818279916\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-09-15T02:43:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-10-25T15:29:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/section-of-the-day-255-ipc.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@centurylawind\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@centurylawind\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/15c0285d46c9a3250f689fe9da251747\"},\"headline\":\"Section 255 IPC (Now Section 178 BNS): Counterfeiting Government Stamps \u2013 Punishment, Bail, Related Stamp Offences and \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 255 in Hindi\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-09-15T02:43:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-25T15:29:59+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":4215,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/09\\\/section-of-the-day-255-ipc.png\",\"keywords\":[\"legal sections\",\"section of the day\"],\"articleSection\":[\"IPC (Indian Penal Code, 1860)\",\"Legal Section of the Day\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/\",\"name\":\"Section 255 IPC in Hindi (Now 178 BNS): Punishment and Bail\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/09\\\/section-of-the-day-255-ipc.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-09-15T02:43:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-25T15:29:59+00:00\",\"description\":\"Section 255 IPC (\u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 255) is now Section 178 BNS: counterfeiting a Government stamp, life or up to 10 years and fine, non-bailable. Fake and used 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is Section 255 IPC?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Section 255 of the Indian Penal Code punished whoever \\\"counterfeits, or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting, any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue\\\", with imprisonment for life, or up to ten years, and fine. Making a genuine stamp of one denomination look like one of another denomination was also counterfeiting. Since 1 July 2024 the offence is Section 178 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-2\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-2\",\"name\":\"What is the BNS equivalent of Section 255 IPC?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Section 178 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, headed \\\"Counterfeiting coin, Government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes\\\". It covers in a single provision the counterfeiting of coins, stamps issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, currency-notes and bank-notes, replacing nine IPC sections (230 to 232, 246 to 249, 255 and 489A). The punishment is the same as under Section 255 IPC: imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description (rigorous or simple) up to ten years, and fine.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-3\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-3\",\"name\":\"Is counterfeiting a Government stamp a bailable offence?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. The First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 shows Section 178 BNS as cognizable and non-bailable, triable by a Court of Session. Cognizable means that the police may arrest without a warrant. Because the offence is non-bailable, Section 480 BNSS says only that the accused \\\"may be released on bail\\\", so release depends on the court; the Court of Session and the High Court can grant bail under Section 483 BNSS. Sections 179, 180 and 181 have the same classification.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-4\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-4\",\"name\":\"Is using an old stamp paper for a new document a crime?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It depends on whether the stamp has been used before. Section 184 BNS (formerly Section 262 IPC) punishes whoever, \\\"fraudulently or with intent to cause loss to the Government\\\", uses a revenue stamp \\\"which he knows to have been before used\\\", with up to two years, or fine, or both. Under the central Indian Stamp Act, 1899, no second dutiable instrument may be written on stamped paper that already carries one (Section 14), and such an instrument \\\"shall be deemed to be unstamped\\\" (Section 15). For unused stamp paper, that Act's text on India Code fixes no date after which it becomes invalid, but State rules (Section 74), State amendments and Section 1(2) may change the position in your State.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-5\",\"position\":5,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-5\",\"name\":\"What does \\\"counterfeit\\\" mean in the BNS?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Section 2(4) BNS (formerly Section 28 IPC) says a person counterfeits who \\\"causes one thing to resemble another thing, intending by means of that resemblance to practise deception, or knowing it to be likely that deception will thereby be practised.\\\" The imitation need not be exact, and where a person might be deceived by the resemblance, intent to deceive is presumed until the contrary is proved (Explanations 1 and 2).\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-6\",\"position\":6,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-6\",\"name\":\"Is changing the value printed on a genuine stamp counterfeiting?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. Clause (3) of the Explanation to Section 178 BNS says that a person commits the offence of \\\"counterfeiting Government stamp\\\" who counterfeits \\\"by causing a genuine stamp of one denomination to appear like a genuine stamp of a different denomination\\\". The same rule was in the Explanation to Section 255 IPC.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-7\",\"position\":7,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-7\",\"name\":\"What is the punishment for selling or using fake stamp paper?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Section 179 BNS punishes whoever buys, sells, delivers, imports, exports, otherwise traffics in, or \\\"uses as genuine\\\" a forged or counterfeit stamp, \\\"knowing or having reason to believe the same to be forged or counterfeit\\\". The punishment is imprisonment for life, or up to ten years, and fine; the offence is cognizable, non-bailable and tried by a Court of Session. For acts before 1 July 2024, the seven-year maximum of Sections 258 and 260 IPC applies.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-8\",\"position\":8,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-8\",\"name\":\"Is merely having fake stamps in one's possession an offence?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, if the person knows or has reason to believe they are forged or counterfeit and intends that they be used as genuine. Section 180 BNS (formerly Section 259 IPC) punishes such possession with up to seven years, or fine, or both; it is cognizable and non-bailable. It is not an offence if the person \\\"establishes the possession ... to be from a lawful source\\\" (Explanation to Section 180).\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-9\",\"position\":9,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-9\",\"name\":\"What if someone erases the writing on a used stamp paper to use it again?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Section 183 BNS (formerly Section 261 IPC) punishes whoever, fraudulently or with intent to cause loss to the Government, removes or effaces from a substance bearing a revenue stamp the writing for which the stamp was used, or removes a used stamp from a document, \\\"in order that such stamp may be used for a different writing or document\\\". The punishment is up to three years, or fine, or both. It is cognizable, bailable and triable by a Magistrate of the first class.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-10\",\"position\":10,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-10\",\"name\":\"Can a stamp-counterfeiting case be compromised?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. Sections 178 to 186 BNS do not appear in either Table of compoundable offences in Section 359 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and Section 359(9) says: \\\"No offence shall be compounded except as provided by this section.\\\" A private settlement does not end the case.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-11\",\"position\":11,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-11\",\"name\":\"What are fictitious stamps under Section 186 BNS?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A \\\"fictitious stamp\\\" is any stamp \\\"falsely purporting to be issued by Government for the purpose of denoting a rate of postage\\\", or any imitation of such a stamp (Section 186(3) BNS, formerly Section 263A IPC). Making, uttering, dealing in or selling one, knowingly using one for a postal purpose, or possessing one (or dies and materials for making one) without lawful excuse is punishable with fine up to two hundred rupees; the stamps and dies may be seized and, if seized, are forfeited (Section 186(2)).\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-12\",\"position\":12,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-12\",\"name\":\"What happens to a document that is not properly stamped?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Under Section 35 of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, an instrument chargeable with duty cannot be admitted in evidence, acted upon or registered unless it is \\\"duly stamped\\\". It can be admitted on payment of the duty or deficit with a penalty of five rupees or ten times the duty or deficit, whichever is more (central Act; Uttar Pradesh, for example, has amended this penalty). Courts and public offices (other than the police) must impound it (Section 33).\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-13\",\"position\":13,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-13\",\"name\":\"What is Section 255 CrPC, and is it the same as Section 255 IPC?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. Section 255 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 dealt with \\\"Acquittal or conviction\\\" in a summons-case trial before a Magistrate, and is now Section 278 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, with no change: the Magistrate records an acquittal if he finds the accused not guilty, and passes sentence according to law if he finds him guilty. Section 255 IPC was the stamp-counterfeiting offence.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-14\",\"position\":14,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.centurylawfirm.in\\\/blog\\\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\\\/#faq-question-14\",\"name\":\"255 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0939\u0948? 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is Section 255 IPC?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Section 255 of the Indian Penal Code punished whoever \"counterfeits, or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting, any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue\", with imprisonment for life, or up to ten years, and fine. Making a genuine stamp of one denomination look like one of another denomination was also counterfeiting. Since 1 July 2024 the offence is Section 178 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.","inLanguage":"en"},"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-2","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-2","name":"What is the BNS equivalent of Section 255 IPC?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Section 178 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, headed \"Counterfeiting coin, Government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes\". It covers in a single provision the counterfeiting of coins, stamps issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, currency-notes and bank-notes, replacing nine IPC sections (230 to 232, 246 to 249, 255 and 489A). The punishment is the same as under Section 255 IPC: imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description (rigorous or simple) up to ten years, and fine.","inLanguage":"en"},"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-3","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-3","name":"Is counterfeiting a Government stamp a bailable offence?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. The First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 shows Section 178 BNS as cognizable and non-bailable, triable by a Court of Session. Cognizable means that the police may arrest without a warrant. Because the offence is non-bailable, Section 480 BNSS says only that the accused \"may be released on bail\", so release depends on the court; the Court of Session and the High Court can grant bail under Section 483 BNSS. Sections 179, 180 and 181 have the same classification.","inLanguage":"en"},"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-4","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-4","name":"Is using an old stamp paper for a new document a crime?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It depends on whether the stamp has been used before. Section 184 BNS (formerly Section 262 IPC) punishes whoever, \"fraudulently or with intent to cause loss to the Government\", uses a revenue stamp \"which he knows to have been before used\", with up to two years, or fine, or both. Under the central Indian Stamp Act, 1899, no second dutiable instrument may be written on stamped paper that already carries one (Section 14), and such an instrument \"shall be deemed to be unstamped\" (Section 15). For unused stamp paper, that Act's text on India Code fixes no date after which it becomes invalid, but State rules (Section 74), State amendments and Section 1(2) may change the position in your State.","inLanguage":"en"},"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-5","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-5","name":"What does \"counterfeit\" mean in the BNS?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Section 2(4) BNS (formerly Section 28 IPC) says a person counterfeits who \"causes one thing to resemble another thing, intending by means of that resemblance to practise deception, or knowing it to be likely that deception will thereby be practised.\" The imitation need not be exact, and where a person might be deceived by the resemblance, intent to deceive is presumed until the contrary is proved (Explanations 1 and 2).","inLanguage":"en"},"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-6","position":6,"url":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-6","name":"Is changing the value printed on a genuine stamp counterfeiting?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Clause (3) of the Explanation to Section 178 BNS says that a person commits the offence of \"counterfeiting Government stamp\" who counterfeits \"by causing a genuine stamp of one denomination to appear like a genuine stamp of a different denomination\". The same rule was in the Explanation to Section 255 IPC.","inLanguage":"en"},"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-7","position":7,"url":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-7","name":"What is the punishment for selling or using fake stamp paper?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Section 179 BNS punishes whoever buys, sells, delivers, imports, exports, otherwise traffics in, or \"uses as genuine\" a forged or counterfeit stamp, \"knowing or having reason to believe the same to be forged or counterfeit\". The punishment is imprisonment for life, or up to ten years, and fine; the offence is cognizable, non-bailable and tried by a Court of Session. For acts before 1 July 2024, the seven-year maximum of Sections 258 and 260 IPC applies.","inLanguage":"en"},"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-8","position":8,"url":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-8","name":"Is merely having fake stamps in one's possession an offence?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, if the person knows or has reason to believe they are forged or counterfeit and intends that they be used as genuine. Section 180 BNS (formerly Section 259 IPC) punishes such possession with up to seven years, or fine, or both; it is cognizable and non-bailable. It is not an offence if the person \"establishes the possession ... to be from a lawful source\" (Explanation to Section 180).","inLanguage":"en"},"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-9","position":9,"url":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-9","name":"What if someone erases the writing on a used stamp paper to use it again?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Section 183 BNS (formerly Section 261 IPC) punishes whoever, fraudulently or with intent to cause loss to the Government, removes or effaces from a substance bearing a revenue stamp the writing for which the stamp was used, or removes a used stamp from a document, \"in order that such stamp may be used for a different writing or document\". The punishment is up to three years, or fine, or both. It is cognizable, bailable and triable by a Magistrate of the first class.","inLanguage":"en"},"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-10","position":10,"url":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-10","name":"Can a stamp-counterfeiting case be compromised?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. Sections 178 to 186 BNS do not appear in either Table of compoundable offences in Section 359 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and Section 359(9) says: \"No offence shall be compounded except as provided by this section.\" A private settlement does not end the case.","inLanguage":"en"},"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-11","position":11,"url":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-11","name":"What are fictitious stamps under Section 186 BNS?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A \"fictitious stamp\" is any stamp \"falsely purporting to be issued by Government for the purpose of denoting a rate of postage\", or any imitation of such a stamp (Section 186(3) BNS, formerly Section 263A IPC). Making, uttering, dealing in or selling one, knowingly using one for a postal purpose, or possessing one (or dies and materials for making one) without lawful excuse is punishable with fine up to two hundred rupees; the stamps and dies may be seized and, if seized, are forfeited (Section 186(2)).","inLanguage":"en"},"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-12","position":12,"url":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-12","name":"What happens to a document that is not properly stamped?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Under Section 35 of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, an instrument chargeable with duty cannot be admitted in evidence, acted upon or registered unless it is \"duly stamped\". It can be admitted on payment of the duty or deficit with a penalty of five rupees or ten times the duty or deficit, whichever is more (central Act; Uttar Pradesh, for example, has amended this penalty). Courts and public offices (other than the police) must impound it (Section 33).","inLanguage":"en"},"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-13","position":13,"url":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-13","name":"What is Section 255 CrPC, and is it the same as Section 255 IPC?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. Section 255 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 dealt with \"Acquittal or conviction\" in a summons-case trial before a Magistrate, and is now Section 278 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, with no change: the Magistrate records an acquittal if he finds the accused not guilty, and passes sentence according to law if he finds him guilty. Section 255 IPC was the stamp-counterfeiting offence.","inLanguage":"en"},"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-14","position":14,"url":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-14","name":"255 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0939\u0948? (Section 255 IPC in Hindi)","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"IPC \u0915\u0940 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 255 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0915\u0947 \u0915\u0942\u091f\u0915\u0930\u0923 \u0915\u093e \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927 \u0925\u093e, \u092f\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u0930\u093e\u091c\u0938\u094d\u0935 \u0915\u0947 \u0932\u093f\u090f \u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930 \u0926\u094d\u0935\u093e\u0930\u093e \u091c\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0915\u094b \u0928\u0915\u0932\u0940 \u092c\u0928\u093e\u0928\u093e \u092f\u093e \u091c\u093e\u0928\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0941\u090f \u0909\u0938\u0915\u0940 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0915\u094d\u0930\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0915\u093e \u0915\u094b\u0908 \u092d\u093e\u0917 \u0915\u0930\u0928\u093e\u0964 1 \u091c\u0941\u0932\u093e\u0908 2024 \u0938\u0947 \u092f\u0939 \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927 \u092d\u093e\u0930\u0924\u0940\u092f \u0928\u094d\u092f\u093e\u092f \u0938\u0902\u0939\u093f\u0924\u093e \u0915\u0940 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 178 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0939\u0948\u0964 \u0938\u091c\u093c\u093e \u0906\u091c\u0940\u0935\u0928 \u0915\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0935\u093e\u0938 \u092f\u093e \u0926\u0938 \u0935\u0930\u094d\u0937 \u0924\u0915 \u0915\u093e \u0915\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0935\u093e\u0938 \u0914\u0930 \u091c\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092e\u093e\u0928\u093e \u0939\u0948\u0964 \u092f\u0939 \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927 \u0938\u0902\u091c\u094d\u091e\u0947\u092f \u0914\u0930 \u0905\u091c\u092e\u093e\u0928\u0924\u0940\u092f \u0939\u0948, \u0907\u0938\u0915\u093e \u0935\u093f\u091a\u093e\u0930\u0923 \u0938\u0947\u0936\u0928 \u0928\u094d\u092f\u093e\u092f\u093e\u0932\u092f \u0915\u0930\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948 \u0914\u0930 \u0907\u0938\u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0938\u092e\u091d\u094c\u0924\u093e \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0939\u094b \u0938\u0915\u0924\u093e\u0964","inLanguage":"en"},"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-15","position":15,"url":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/legal-section-of-the-day-section-255-ipc\/#faq-question-15","name":"\u092a\u0941\u0930\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u092a\u0947\u092a\u0930 \u0915\u093e \u0909\u092a\u092f\u094b\u0917 \u0915\u0930\u0928\u093e \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0905\u092a\u0930\u093e\u0927 \u0939\u0948?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"\u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 184 BNS \u0915\u0947 \u0905\u0928\u0941\u0938\u093e\u0930, \u091c\u094b \u0915\u094b\u0908 \u0915\u092a\u091f\u092a\u0942\u0930\u094d\u0935\u0915 \u092f\u093e \u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930 \u0915\u094b \u0939\u093e\u0928\u093f \u092a\u0939\u0941\u0902\u091a\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u0947 \u0906\u0936\u092f \u0938\u0947 \u0910\u0938\u0947 \u0938\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0915\u093e \u0909\u092a\u092f\u094b\u0917 \u0915\u0930\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948, \u091c\u093f\u0938\u0915\u0947 \u092c\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0935\u0939 \u091c\u093e\u0928\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948 \u0915\u093f \u0909\u0938\u0915\u093e \u092a\u0939\u0932\u0947 \u0909\u092a\u092f\u094b\u0917 \u0939\u094b \u091a\u0941\u0915\u093e \u0939\u0948, \u0909\u0938\u0947 \u0926\u094b \u0935\u0930\u094d\u0937 \u0924\u0915 \u0915\u093e \u0915\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0935\u093e\u0938, \u092f\u093e \u091c\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092e\u093e\u0928\u093e, \u092f\u093e \u0926\u094b\u0928\u094b\u0902 \u0939\u094b \u0938\u0915\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902\u0964 \u092d\u093e\u0930\u0924\u0940\u092f \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u0905\u0927\u093f\u0928\u093f\u092f\u092e \u0915\u0940 \u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 14 \u0915\u0947 \u0905\u0928\u0941\u0938\u093e\u0930 \u091c\u093f\u0938 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u092a\u0947\u092a\u0930 \u092a\u0930 \u0936\u0941\u0932\u094d\u0915-\u092f\u094b\u0917\u094d\u092f \u090f\u0915 \u0932\u093f\u0916\u0924 \u0932\u093f\u0916\u0940 \u091c\u093e \u091a\u0941\u0915\u0940 \u0939\u0948, \u0909\u0938 \u092a\u0930 \u0926\u0942\u0938\u0930\u0940 \u0936\u0941\u0932\u094d\u0915-\u092f\u094b\u0917\u094d\u092f \u0932\u093f\u0916\u0924 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0932\u093f\u0916\u0940 \u091c\u093e \u0938\u0915\u0924\u0940\u0964 \u092c\u093f\u0928\u093e \u0909\u092a\u092f\u094b\u0917 \u0935\u093e\u0932\u0947 \u092a\u0941\u0930\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0938\u094d\u091f\u093e\u092e\u094d\u092a \u092a\u0947\u092a\u0930 \u0915\u0947 \u0932\u093f\u090f \u0930\u093e\u091c\u094d\u092f \u0915\u0947 \u0928\u093f\u092f\u092e \u092d\u0940 \u0926\u0947\u0916\u0947\u0902 (\u0927\u093e\u0930\u093e 74)\u0964 \u092f\u0939 \u092b\u0930\u094d\u092e \u0915\u093e \u0938\u093e\u0930\u093e\u0902\u0936 \u0939\u0948\u0964","inLanguage":"en"},"inLanguage":"en"}]}},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/section-of-the-day-255-ipc.png",1080,1080,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/section-of-the-day-255-ipc-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/section-of-the-day-255-ipc-300x300.png",300,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/section-of-the-day-255-ipc-768x768.png",768,768,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/section-of-the-day-255-ipc-1024x1024.png",1024,1024,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/section-of-the-day-255-ipc.png",1080,1080,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/section-of-the-day-255-ipc.png",1080,1080,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/author\/admin\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Section 255 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punished counterfeiting a Government stamp: &#8220;Whoever counterfeits, or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting, any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue&#8221; could be sentenced to imprisonment for life, or to imprisonment of up to ten years, and was also liable to&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1292"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1292\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5761,"href":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1292\/revisions\/5761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.centurylawfirm.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}