BNS Section 339 — Having possession of document described in section 337 or section 338, knowing it to be forged and intending to use it as genuine
Section 339 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 addresses “Having possession of document described in section 337 or section 338, knowing it to be forged and intending to use it as genuine”. Read the provision below with its qualifications, exceptions and chapter context; the official source is linked alongside it.
339. Having possession of document described in section 337 or section 338, knowing it to be forged and intending to use it as genuine.—Whoever has in his possession any document or electronic record, knowing the same to be forged and intending that the same shall fraudulently or dishonestly be used as genuine, shall, if the document or electronic record is one of the description mentioned in section 337 of this Sanhita, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine; and if the document is one of the description mentioned in section 338, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description, for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine. ¶
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 →