Counterfeiting a mark used by a public servant
Section 484 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 deals with counterfeiting a mark used by a public servant. Whoever counterfeits any property mark used by a public servant, or any mark used by a public servant to denote that any property has been manufactured by a particular person or at a particular time or place, or that the property is of a particular quality or has passed through a particular office, 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 Repealed by section 358 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024, but conduct before that date is still charged, tried and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 any property mark used by a public servant, or any mark used by a public servant to denote that any property has been manufactured by a particular person or at a particular time or place, or that the property is of a particular quality or has passed through a particular office, or that it is entitled to any exemption, or uses as genuine any such mark knowing the same to be counterfeit, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Section 484, The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Act 45 of 1860).
Now in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
BNS 347 Counterfeiting a property mark Text carried over almost unchanged 88%
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 The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force.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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J.lalitha vs The Superintendent of Police
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
The High Court cannot direct the police to alter an FIR by adding additional sections of the Indian Penal Code without evidence of the commission of those offences. The police must gather evidence before filing an alteration report, and it is within the police's discretion to determine when and whether to file such a report based on the evidence collected during investigation.
On this section: Theft - sought to be added by petitioner but court declined to direct its addition
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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… is convicted of any cognizable and non-bailable offence or of any offence under the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930 (Central Act 2 of 1930) or under the Medicinal and Toilet Preparations (Excise Duties) Act, 1955 (Central Act 16 of 1955) or under the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958 (Central Act 43 of 1958) or under section 481, 482, 483, 484, 485, 486, 487, 488 or 489 of the Indian Penal Code (Central Act 45 of 1860) or of any offence punishable under section 112 or 144 of the Customs Act, 1962 (Central Act 52 of 1962); or (e) if the conditions of the licence or permit provide for such cancellation or suspension at will. 15. Rules 113 of …
Questions about Section 484
What have the courts held on Section 484 of the Indian Penal Code?
J.lalitha vs The Superintendent of Police (17 Jul 2018) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Theft - sought to be added by petitioner but court declined to direct its addition.
How do I find court cases under Section 484 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 484, section 484 IPC, section 484 of the Indian Penal Code. People searching for it also type ipc 484 punishment and ipc 484 vivitar. 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 J.lalitha vs The Superintendent of Police (17 Jul 2018).
What should I read with Section 484 of the Indian Penal Code, and has it changed?
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 347 (Counterfeiting a property mark), which replaced it; conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under this section.
When did Section 484 of the Indian Penal Code come into force?
Section 484 of the Indian Penal Code, cited as IPC 484, 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.