Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents described in section 467, or possessing counterfeit marked material
Section 475 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 deals with counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents described in section 467, or possessing counterfeit marked material. Whoever counterfeits upon, or in the substance of, any material, any device or mark used for the purpose of authenticating any document described in section 467 of this Code, intending that such device or mark shall be used for the purpose of giving the appearance of authenticity to any document the 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 Repealed by section 358 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024, but conduct before that date is still charged, tried and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 upon, or in the substance of, any material, any device or mark used for the purpose of authenticating any document described in section 467 of this Code, intending that such device or mark shall be used for the purpose of giving the appearance of authenticity to any document then forged or thereafter to be forged on such material, or who, with such intent, has in his possession any material upon or in the substance of which any such device or mark has been counterfeited, shall be punished with 1 *[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Section 475, The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Act 45 of 1860).
Now in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
BNS 342 Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents described in section 338, or possessing counterfeit marked material Text carried over almost unchanged 97%
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 The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force.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.
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
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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Nar Singh vs State of Rajasthan
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Section 195(1)(b) CrPC, which restricts prosecution of forgery and related offences, applies only when such offences are committed in relation to proceedings in a court or when documents are forged after being given in custodia legis (court custody). When forged documents are created before being filed in court, Section 195(1)(b) does not apply, and a Magistrate has jurisdiction to take cognizance of such offences without requiring the restrictions prescribed under Section 195 CrPC.
On this section: Offences relating to forged documents - subject of Section 195(1)(b) CrPC restriction
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.
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), namely, sections 193 to 196 (both inclusive), 199, 200, 205 to 211 (both inclusive) and 228, when such offence is alleged to have been committed in, or in relation to, any proceeding in any Court, or (ii) of any offence described in section 463, or punishable under section 471, section 475 or section 476, of the said Code, when such offence is alleged to have been committed in respect of a document produced or given in evidence in a proceeding in any Court, or (iii) of any criminal conspiracy to commit, or attempt to commit, or the abetment of, any offence specified in subclause (i) or subclause …
Questions about Section 475
What have the courts held on Section 475 of the Indian Penal Code?
Nar Singh vs State of Rajasthan (08 Jan 2013) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Offences relating to forged documents - subject of Section 195(1)(b) CrPC restriction.
How do I find court cases under Section 475 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 475, section 475 IPC, section 475 of the Indian Penal Code. People searching for it also type 475 ipc punishment and 475 ipc in bns. 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 Nar Singh vs State of Rajasthan (08 Jan 2013).
What should I read with Section 475 of the Indian Penal Code, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 467 (Forgery of valuable security, will, etc), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 2 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. For anything done on or after 1 July 2024 the provision to read is BNS 342 (Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents described in section 338, or possessing counterfeit marked material), which replaced it; conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under this section.
When did Section 475 of the Indian Penal Code come into force?
Section 475 of the Indian Penal Code, cited as IPC 475, 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.