IPC Section 415: Cheating
Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Chapter 17: Offences Against Property
Repealed on 1 July 2024 and replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).
Whoever, by deceiving any person, fraudulently or dishonestly induces the person so deceived to deliver any property to any person, or to consent that any person shall retain any property, or intentionally induces the person so deceived to do or omit to do anything which he would not do or omit if he were not so deceived, and which act or omission causes or is likely to cause damage or harm to that person in body, mind, reputation or property, is said to "cheat".
Explanation
A dishonest concealment of facts is deception within the meaning of this section.
Illustrations
(a) A, by falsely pretending to be in the Civil Service, intentionally deceives Z, and thus dishonestly induces Z to let him have on credit goods for which he does not mean to pay. A cheats.
(b) A, by putting a counterfeit make on an article, intentionally deceives Z into a belief that this article was made by a certain celebrated manufacturer, and thus dishonestly induces Z to buy and pay for the article. A cheats.
(c) A, by exhibiting to Z a false sample of an article, intentionally deceives Z into believer that the article corresponds with the sample, and thereby, dishonestly induces Z to buy and pay for the article. A cheats.
(d) A, by tendering in payment for an article a bill on a house with which A keeps on money, and by which A expects that the will be dishonored, intentionally deceives Z, and thereby dishonestly induces Z to deliver the article, intending not to pay for it. A cheats.
(e) A, by pledging as diamonds article which he knows are not diamonds, intentionally deceives Z, and thereby dishonestly induces Z to lend money. A cheats.
(f) A intentionally deceives Z into a belief that A means to repay any money that Z may led to him and thereby dishonestly induces Z to lend him money. A not intending to repay it A cheats.
(g) A intentionally deceives Z into a belief that A means to deliver to Z a certain quantity of indigo plant which he does not intend to deliver and thereby dishonestly induces Z to advance money upon the faith of such deliver. A cheats; but if A, at the of obtaining the money, intends to deliver the indigo plant, and afterwards breaks his contract and does not deliver it, he does not cheat, but is liable only to a civil action for breach of contract.
(h) A intentionally deceives Z into a belief that A has performed A`s part of a contract made with Z, which he has not performed, and thereby dishonestly induces Z to pay money. A cheats.
(i) A sells and coveys an estate to B.A, knowing that in consequence of such sale he has no right to the property, sells or mortgages the same to Z, without disclosing the fact of the previous sale and conveyance to B, and receives the purchase or mortgage money for Z. A cheats.
Bare act text for reference, current to 30 June 2024. It is not legal advice; check the official gazette for authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 378. Theft
- 379. Punishment for theft
- 380. Theft in dwelling house, etc
- 382. Theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to the committing of the theft
- 383. Extortion
- 384. Punishment for extortion
- 385. Putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion
- 386. Extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt
- 387. Putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion
- 388. Extortion by threat of accusation of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life, etc
- 389. Putting person in fear of accusation of offence, in order to commit extortion
- 390. Robbery
- 391. Dacoity
- 392. Punishment for robbery
- 393. Attempt to commit robbery
- 394. Voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery
- 395. Punishment for dacoity
- 396. Dacoity with murder
- 397. Robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt
- 398. Attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when armed with deadly weapon
- 399. Making preparation to commit dacoity
- 400. Punishment for belonging to gang of dacoits
- 401. Punishment for belonging to gang of thieves
- 402. Assembling for purpose of committing dacoity
- 403. Dishonest misappropriation of property
- 404. Dishonest misappropriation of property possessed by deceased person at the time of his death
- 405. Criminal breach of trust
- 406. Punishment for criminal breach of trust
- 407. Criminal breach of trust by carrier, etc
- 408. Criminal breach of trust by clerk or servant
- 409. Criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent
- 410. Stolen Property
- 411. Dishonestly receiving stolen property
- 412. Dishonestly receiving property stolen in the commission of a dacoity
- 413. Habitually dealing in stolen property
- 414. Assisting in concealment of stolen property
- 416. Cheating by personation
- 417. Punishment for cheating
- 418. Cheating with knowledge that wrongful loss may ensue to person whose interest offender is bound to protect
- 419. Punishment for cheating by personation
- 420. Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property
- 421. Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent distribution among creditors
- 422. Dishonestly or fraudulently preventing debt being available for creditors
- 423. Dishonest or fraudulent execution of deed of transfer containing false statement of consideration
- 424. Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property
- 425. Mischief
- 426. Punished for mischief
- 427. Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees
- 428. Mischief by killing or maiming animal of the value of ten rupees
- 429. Mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc., of any value or any animal of the value of fifty rupees
- 430. Mischief by injury to works of irrigation or by wrongfully diverting water
- 431. Mischief by injury to public road, bridge, river or channel
- 432. Mischief by causing inundation or obstruction to public drainage attended with damage
- 433. Mischief by destroying, moving or rendering less useful a light-house or sea-mark
- 434. Mischief by destroying or moving, etc., a land- mark fixed by public authority
- 435. Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage to amount of one hundred or (in case of agricultural produce) ten rupees
- 436. Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc
- 437. Mischief with intent to destroy or make unsafe a decked vessel or one of twenty tons burden
- 438. Punishment for the mischief described in section 437 committed by fire or explosive substance
- 439. Punishment for intentionally running vessel aground or ashore with intent to commit theft, etc
- 440. Mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt
- 441. Criminal trespass
- 442. House trespass
- 443. Lurking house-trespass
- 444. Lurking house-trespass by night
- 445. Housing breaking
- 446. House-breaking by night
- 447. Punishment for criminal trespass
- 448. Punishment for house-trespass
- 449. House-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with death
- 450. House-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment for life
- 451. House-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment
- 452. House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint
- 453. Punishment for lurking house-trespass or house-breaking
- 454. Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment
- 455. Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint
- 456. Punishment for lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night
- 457. Lurking house trespass or house-breaking by night in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment
- 458. Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night after preparation for hurt, assault, or wrongful restraint
- 459. Grievous hurt caused whilst committing lurking house trespass or house-breaking
- 460. All persons jointly concerned in lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night punishable where death or grievous hurt caused by one of them
- 461. Dishonestly breaking open receptacle containing property
- 462. Punishment for same offence when committed by person entrusted with custody