Vakilpedia Blog · Updated 4 October 2026

BNS Section for Cheating: IPC 420 Is Now BNS 318(4)

IPC 420 is now Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Simple cheating (old IPC 417) is BNS 318(2), and cheating by personation (old IPC 419) is BNS 319(2). Note: BNS 316 is criminal breach of trust, not cheating — a common mistake in FIRs and drafts.

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Every BNS section with its old IPC number, punishment and whether it is bailable.

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Cheating: old IPC to new BNS

Old IPCNew BNSOffencePunishmentCognizableBailable
415318(1)Definition of cheating———
417318(2)CheatingUp to 3 years, or fine, or bothNon-cognizableBailable
418318(3)Cheating a person whose interest the offender was bound to protectUp to 5 years, or fine, or bothNon-cognizableBailable
420318(4)Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of propertyUp to 7 years and fineCognizableNon-bailable
416 / 419319Cheating by personation319(2): up to 5 years, or fine, or bothCognizableBailable

Classification from the First Schedule to the BNSS, 2023. Punishment as worded in the BNS sections.

What changed from IPC 420

The ingredients are the same: deception, dishonest inducement and delivery of property (or making, altering or destroying a valuable security). The maximum punishment stays at seven years with fine, and the offence stays cognizable and non-bailable. What changed is the number — and drafts, FIRs and bail applications that still say “420” for an offence committed after 1 July 2024 should cite BNS 318(4).

Old offence or new?

The date of the offence decides the code. An offence committed before 1 July 2024 is still charged under the IPC; one committed on or after that date is charged under the BNS. Procedure (investigation, bail, trial) follows the BNSS for proceedings started after that date, subject to the savings clause in the BNSS.

Convert the rest of the FIR

Cheating rarely comes alone — 406 (now 316(2)), 467/468/471 (now 338, 336(3), 340(2)) and 120B (now 61(2)) usually travel with it. Use the IPC to BNS converter for any section, or browse the full BNS section list with punishments and bail status.

Frequently asked questions

What is the BNS section for IPC 420?

Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 — cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property. See BNS 318.

Is BNS 318(4) bailable?

No. Under the First Schedule to the BNSS it is cognizable and non-bailable, triable by a Magistrate of the first class. Simple cheating under 318(2) is bailable.

Is BNS 316 cheating?

No. BNS 316 is criminal breach of trust (old IPC 405–409). Cheating is BNS 318.

This article explains the law in general terms and is not legal advice for any particular case. Section numbers and text are taken from the bare acts; check the current text before you file.

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