BNS Section 180 — Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes
Section 180 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 addresses “Possession of forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes”. Read the provision below with its qualifications, exceptions and chapter context; the official source is linked alongside it.
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. ¶
Source edition: 6 October 2025. This preview uses extracted India Code text. Editorial verification and checks for subsequent amendments and commencement notifications are pending. About the source →