Counterfeiting coin
Section 231 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 deals with counterfeiting coin. Whoever counterfeits or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting coin, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine. The Act came into force on 01 Jan 1862. Repealed by section 358 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024, but conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under it.
Whoever counterfeits or knowingly performs any part of the process of counterfeiting coin, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation.-A person commits this offence 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.
Section 231, The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Act 45 of 1860).
Now in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
BNS 178 Counterfeiting coin, Government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes Close, with changes 77%
Measured by comparing the text of the two provisions, not taken from an official correspondence table — there is no machine-readable one. See both texts side by side before relying on it.
Both regimes are live. The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force. We never redirect one to the other.
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Deep Verma vs State of Uttarakhand
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
An accused with no previous criminal history, good business reputation, and who has already undergone significant custody during investigation deserves bail at the bail stage, subject to conditions of personal bond and sureties, even when charged with serious offences involving counterfeit currency and archaeological artifact possession.
On this section: Counterfeiting currency - directly applicable to the counterfeit coins and biscuit recovered
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 231
What have the courts held on Section 231 of the Indian Penal Code?
Deep Verma vs State of Uttarakhand (03 Sep 2010) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Counterfeiting currency - directly applicable to the counterfeit coins and biscuit recovered.
How do I find court cases under Section 231 of the Indian Penal Code?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: IPC 231, section 231 IPC, section 231 of the Indian Penal Code. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Deep Verma vs State of Uttarakhand (03 Sep 2010).
What should I read with Section 231 of the Indian Penal Code, and has it changed?
For anything done on or after 1 July 2024 the provision to read is BNS 178 (Counterfeiting coin, Government stamps, currency-notes or bank-notes), which replaced it; conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under this section.
When did Section 231 of the Indian Penal Code come into force?
Section 231 of the Indian Penal Code, cited as IPC 231, came into force on 01 Jan 1862, having been enacted on 06 Oct 1860. It is no longer in force.
Other sections of this Act
- 499. Defamation1512 words
- 464. Making a false document1223 words
- 300. Murder1172 words
- 378. Theft980 words
- 108. Abettor745 words
- 403. Dishonest misappropriation of property727 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Recovered from the consolidated text published by India Code (item 7b7d4fe6-206b-4e33-81f1-b98b018acaf6). This page is not a substitute for legal advice.