BBanaka

BNS Section 204: Personating a public servant

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter 12: Of Offences by or Relating to Public Servants

Also available in: हिंदी

204. Whoever pretends to hold any particular office as a public servant, knowing that he does not hold such office or falsely personates any other person holding such office, and in such assumed character does or attempts to do any act under colour of such office, shallbe punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to three years and with fine.

Study: explanations and related material

Replaces IPC 170. IPC → BNS converterSource: BPR&D BNS–IPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-06-28)

Punishment, bail and trial

204Personating a public servant.

Punishment
Imprisonment for not less than 6 months but which may extend to 3 years and fine.
Cognizable or not
Cognizable
Bailable or not
Non‑bailable
Triable by
Any Magistrate

Source: BNSS First Schedule, Gazette of India, 25 December 2023, p. 172. The Schedule gives the substance of the section, not its full definition, and a State may have amended the classification for its territory. See it in the full First Schedule

Official reference: Ministry of Home Affairs: Gazette text, 25 December 2023 — source link checked: 2 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2024-07-01.Mobile-app reference import; the recorded snapshot date is not a fresh legal-currency guarantee. The linked government text is an independent authoritative reference, not certification that this website reproduces the same edition. The source link was checked, not every provision or subsequent amendment. Check commencement notifications, savings and jurisdiction-specific variations separately.

This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.

Other sections in this chapter