BNS Section 336: Forgery
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter 18: Of Offences Relating to Documents and to Property Marks - Of property marks
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¶336.
(1) Whoever makes any false document or false electronic record or part of a document or electronic record, with intent to cause damage or injury, to the public or to any person, or to support any claim or title, or to cause any person to part with property, or to enter into any express or implied contract, or with intent to commit fraud or that fraud may be committed, commits forgery.
¶(2) Whoever commits forgery shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
¶(3) Whoever commits forgery, intending that the document or electronic record forged shall be used for the purpose of cheating, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
¶(4) Whoever commits forgery, intending that the document or electronic record forged shall harm the reputation of any party, or knowing that it is likely to be used for that purpose, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Study: explanations and related material
Replaces IPC 463, IPC 465, IPC 468, IPC 469. IPC → BNS converterSource: BPR&D BNS–IPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-06-28)
Punishment, bail and trial
336(2)Forgery.
- Punishment
- Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both.
- Cognizable or not
- Non‑cognizable
- Bailable or not
- Bailable
- Triable by
- Magistrate of the first class
336(3)Forgery for the purpose of cheating.
- Punishment
- Imprisonment for 7 years and fine.
- Cognizable or not
- Cognizable
- Bailable or not
- Non‑bailable
- Triable by
- Magistrate of the first class
336(4)Forgery for the purpose of harming the reputation of any person or knowing that it is likely to be used for that purpose.
- Punishment
- Imprisonment for 3 years and fine.
- Cognizable or not
- Cognizable
- Bailable or not
- Bailable
- Triable by
- Magistrate of the first class
Source: BNSS First Schedule, Gazette of India, 25 December 2023, p. 186. 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
- 335. Making a false document
- 337. Forgery of the record of a Court or of a public register, etc
- 338. Forgery of a valuable security, will, etc
- 339. Having possession of a document described in section 337 or section 338, knowing it to be forged and intending to use it as genuine
- 340. Forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine
- 341. Making or possessing a counterfeit seal, etc., with intent to commit forgery punishable under section 338
- 342. Counterfeiting a device or mark used for authenticating documents described in section 338, or possessing counterfeit marked material
- 343. Fraudulent cancellation, destruction, etc., of a will, authority to adopt, or valuable security
- 344. Falsification of accounts
- 345. Property mark
- 346. Tampering with a property mark with the intent to cause injury
- 347. Counterfeiting a property mark
- 348. Making or possession of any instrument for counterfeiting a property mark
- 349. Selling goods marked with a counterfeit property mark
- 350. Making a false mark upon any receptacle containing goods