Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
BNS Section 340
Forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine
In one line
BNS Section 340 deals with forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine and replaces IPC 470 (now 340(1)), IPC 471 (now 340(2)).
Punishment, bail and court
| Section | Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 340(2) | Using as genuine a forged document which is known to be forged. | Punishment for forgery of such document. | Cognizable. | Bailable. | Magistrate of the first class. |
Source: First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The punishment column is the Schedule’s summary; the section text below is what prescribes the punishment. Classification decides procedure (arrest, bail as of right, which court), not the result of any particular case.
Bare act text — BNS 340
340. Forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine.
(1) A false document or electronic record made wholly or in part by forgery is designated a forged document or electronic record.
(2) Whoever fraudulently or dishonestly uses as genuine any document or electronic record which he knows or has reason to believe to be a forged document or electronic record, shall be punished in the same manner as if he had forged such document or electronic record.
What changed from the IPC
- IPC 470 → BNS 340(1): IPC section is included as a sub-section in BNS.
- IPC 470 → BNS 340(1): "using it as genuine" is added in the heading.
- IPC 471 → BNS 340(2): IPC section is included as a sub-section in BNS sans heading.
Frequently asked
What was BNS Section 340 in the IPC?
BNS Section 340 (Forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine) replaces Sections 470, 471 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. IPC 470 is now BNS 340(1). IPC 471 is now BNS 340(2).
What is the punishment under BNS 340(2)?
Using as genuine a forged document which is known to be forged – Punishment for forgery of such document. Under the First Schedule to the BNSS, 2023 it is cognizable and bailable, triable by magistrate of the first class.
Is BNS 340 bailable?
Bailable: BNS 340(2). Bail in a non-bailable offence is at the court's discretion; the classification decides procedure, not the outcome of a particular bail application.
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Nearby BNS sections
- BNS 335 — Making a false document
- BNS 336 — Forgery
- BNS 337 — Forgery of record of Court or of public register, etc
- BNS 338 — Forgery of valuable security, will, etc
- BNS 339 — Having possession of document described in section 337 or section 338, knowing it to be forged and intending to use it as genuine
- BNS 341 — Making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc., with intent to commit forgery punishable under section 338
- BNS 342 — Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents described in section 338, or possessing counterfeit marked material
- BNS 343 — Fraudulent cancellation, destruction, etc., of will, authority to adopt, or valuable security
- BNS 344 — Falsification of accounts
- BNS 345 — Property mark