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

IPC section 252 in the BNS

IPC 252BNS 180

IPC section 252, “Possession of coin by person who knew it to be altered when he became possessed thereof”, is now BNS section 180 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in force from 1 July 2024.

What changed

From IPC 252 to BNS 180

Merged into BNS section 180 (possessing forged or counterfeit coin, stamps or notes). Punishment: up to seven years, or fine, or both (IPC 252: up to three years and fine). New Explanation: possession shown to come from a lawful source is no offence.

The official text

Old and new, side by side

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 252 Possession of coin by person who knew it to be altered when he became possessed thereof

Whoever fraudulently or with intent that fraud may be committed, is in possession of coin with respect to which the offence defined in either of the section 246 or 248 has been committed, having known at the time of becoming possessed thereof that such offence had been committed with respect to such coin, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Section 180 Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank- notes

Whoever has in his possession any forged or counterfeit coin, stamp, currency-note or bank-note, knowing or having reason to believe the same to be forged or counterfeit and intending to use the same as genuine or that it may be used as genuine, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.

Explanation.—If a person establishes the possession of the forged or counterfeit coin, stamp, currency-note or bank-note to be from a lawful source, it shall not constitute an offence under this section.

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amendment markers and footnotes of the official print are left out, so the old section reads as it stood when it was repealed; State amendments are not shown.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The BNS repealed the IPC from 1 July 2024 (section 358(1)).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

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