Section 178 BNS: Counterfeiting Coin, Government Stamps, Currency-notes Or Bank-notes

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Section 178 BNS | BNS 178

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.

Explanation— For the purposes of this Chapter,—

(1) the expression “bank-note” means a promissory note or engagement for the payment of money to bearer on demand issued by any person carrying on the business of banking in any part of the world, or issued by or under the authority of any State or Sovereign Power, and intended to be used as equivalent to, or as a substitute for money;

(2) “coin” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in section 2 of the Coinage Act, 2011 (11 of 2011) and includes metal used for the time being as money and is stamped and issued by or under the authority of any State or Sovereign Power intended to be so used;

(3) 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;

(4) a person commits the offence of counterfeiting coin who intending to practise deception, or knowing it to be likely that deception will thereby be practised, causes a genuine coin to appear like a different coin; and

(5) the offence of “counterfeiting coin” includes diminishing the weight or alteration of the composition, or alteration of the appearance of the coin.

READ OTHER SECTIONS OF CHAPTER X — OF OFFENCES RELATING TO COIN, CURRENCY-NOTES, BANK-NOTES, AND GOVERNMENT STAMPS

Section No.	Section Title
178	Counterfeiting coin, Government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes.
179	Using as genuine, forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes.
180	Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes.
181	Making or possessing instruments or materials for forging or counterfeiting coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes.
182	Making or using documents resembling currency-notes or bank-notes.
183	Effacing writing from substance bearing Government stamp, or removing from document a stamp used for it, with intent to cause loss to Government.
184	Using Government stamp known to have been before used.
185	Erasure of mark denoting that stamp has been used.
186	Prohibition of fictitious stamps.
187	Person employed in mint causing coin to be of different weight or composition from that fixed by law.
188	Unlawfully taking coining instrument from mint.

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FAQs of BNS Section 178

178 BNS punishment and fine

Punishment and fine under Section 178 of the BNS: Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine.
178 BNS cognizable or not

The offence under Section 178 of the BNS is cognizable.
178 BNS bailable or not

The offence under Section 178 of the BNS is non-bailable.
178 BNS trial court

Offence specified in Section 178 of the BNS is triable by the Court of Session.

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).