22 days left — Registration closes 2026-10-31.

IPC · Chapter XII · Of offences relating to coin and Government stamps

IPC section 251 in the BNS

IPC 251BNS 179

IPC section 251, “Delivery of Indian coin, possessed with knowledge that it is altered”, is now BNS section 179 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in force from 1 July 2024.

What changed

From IPC 251 to BNS 179

Merged into BNS section 179 (trafficking in or using as genuine forged or counterfeit coin, stamps or notes). The punishment is imprisonment for life or up to ten years, and fine (IPC 251: up to ten years and fine).

The official text

Old and new, side by side

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 251 Delivery of Indian coin, possessed with knowledge that it is altered

Whoever, having coin in his possession with respect to which the offence defined in section 247 or 249 has been committed, and having known at the time when he became possessed of such coin that such offence had been committed with respect to it, fraudulently or with intent that fraud may be committed, delivers such coin to any other person, or attempts to induce any other person to receive the same, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Section 179 Using as genuine, forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank- notes

Whoever imports or exports, or sells or delivers to, or buys or receives from, any other person, or otherwise traffics or uses as genuine, any forged or counterfeit coin, stamp, currency-note or bank-note, knowing or having reason to believe the same to be forged or counterfeit, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

The texts are India Code’s. The amendment markers and footnotes of the official print are left out, so the old section reads as it stood when it was repealed; State amendments are not shown. The PDFs linked below carry the full history.

Old law or new?

Which one applies to a case

The BNS repealed the IPC from 1 July 2024 (section 358(1)). The repeal does not reach back: under section 358(2), penalties and punishments incurred for offences committed against the IPC still stand, and proceedings for them may be started, continued and enforced as if the IPC had not been repealed. An act done before 1 July 2024 is therefore dealt with under the IPC section; an act done on or after that date, under the BNS.

Sources

Prepare with CLATcoach, free

A free account gives you a full mock, a past paper for every exam, the daily questions, twelve Legal GK headings and a report on where you stand.

Create a free account