Section 318 BNS: Cheating

Table of Contents

Section 318 BNS | BNS 318

318(1) 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 a 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 mark 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 believing 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 no money, and by which A expects that the bill will be dishonoured, 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 articles 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 lend 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 delivery. A cheats; but if A, at the time 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 conveys 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 from Z. A cheats.

318(2) BNS

Whoever cheats shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

318(3) BNS

Whoever cheats with the knowledge that he is likely thereby to cause wrongful loss to a person whose interest in the transaction to which the cheating relates, he was bound, either by law, or by a legal contract, to protect, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.

318(4) BNS

Whoever cheats and thereby dishonestly induces the person deceived to deliver any property to any person, or to make, alter or destroy the whole or any part of a valuable security, or anything which is signed or sealed, and which is capable of being converted into a valuable security, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

READ OTHER SECTIONS OF CHAPTER XVII — OF OFFENCES AGAINST PROPERTY

Section No.	Section Title
	Of Theft
303	Theft.
304	Snatching.
305	Theft in a dwelling house, or means of transportation or place of worship, etc.
306	Theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master.
307	Theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to committing of theft.
	Of Extortion
308	Extortion.
	Of Robbery And Dacoity
309	Robbery.
310	Dacoity.
311	Robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt.
312	Attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when armed with deadly weapon.
313	Punishment for belonging to gang of robbers, etc.
	Of Criminal Misappropriation Of Property
314	Dishonest misappropriation of property.
315	Dishonest misappropriation of property possessed by deceased person at the time of his death.
	Of Criminal Breach Of Trust
316	Criminal breach of trust.
	Of Receiving Stolen Property
317	Stolen property.
	Of Cheating
318	Cheating.
319	Cheating by personation.
	Of Fraudulent Deeds And Dispositions Of Property
320	Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent distribution among creditors.
321	Dishonestly or fraudulently preventing debt being available for creditors.
322	Dishonest or fraudulent execution of deed of transfer containing false statement of consideration.
323	Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property.
	Of Mischief
324	Mischief.
325	Mischief by killing or maiming animal.
326	Mischief by injury, inundation, fire or explosive substance, etc.
327	Mischief with intent to destroy or make unsafe a rail, aircraft, decked vessel or one of twenty tons burden.
328	Punishment for intentionally running vessel aground or ashore with intent to commit theft, etc.
	Of Criminal Trespass
329	Criminal trespass and house-trespass.
330	House-trespass and hous-ebreaking.
331	Punishment for house-trespass or house-breaking.
332	House-trespass in order to commit offence.
333	House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint.
334	Dishonestly breaking open receptacle containing property.

Read all the chapters of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023

FAQs of BNS Section 318

318 BNS punishment and fine

Punishment and fine under Section 318 of the BNS—

318(2): Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both.
318(3): Imprisonment for 5 years, or fine, or both.
318(4): Imprisonment for 7 years and fine.
318 BNS cognizable or not

The offence under Section 318(2) and 318(3) of the BNS is non-cognizable and the offence under Section 318(4) is cognizable.
318 BNS bailable or not

The offence under Section 318(2) and 318(3) of the BNS is bailable and the offence under Section 318(4) is non-bailable.
318 BNS trial court

Offence specified in Section 318(2) and 318(3) of the BNS is triable by any Magistrate, while the offence specified in Section 318(4) is triable by the Magistrate of the first class.

Important Points

Cognizable Offences: These are offences where a police officer can arrest a person without a warrant.

Non-Cognizable Offences: These are offences where a police officer cannot arrest a person without a warrant.

Bailable Offences: These are offences where the accused can get bail from the police station itself. All bailable offences are listed in the First Schedule of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Non-Bailable Offences: Offences in which bail is not granted directly from the police station but after hearing the case in the court, the judge decides when bail will be granted. All non-bailable offences are listed in the first schedule of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).