IPC 241→BNS 179

IPC 241 to BNS 179: Delivery of coin as genuine, which, when first possessed, the deliverer did not know to be counterfeit

Section 241 IPC (1860) replaced by Section 179 BNS (2023)

View IPC Section 241 →View BNS Section 179 →

IPC 241 to BNS 179 at a Glance

Section 241 IPC (Delivery of coin as genuine, which, when first possessed, the deliverer did not know to be counterfeit) is now Section 179 BNS, in force from 1 July 2024. Under the BNS it is non-bailable and cognizable. What changed is set out below.

What Changed From IPC 241 to BNS 179?

Section 241 IPC is absorbed into Section 179 BNS, which eliminates the separate mitigated category for a person who acquired counterfeit coin innocently before uttering it. Under Section 179 BNS, any person who delivers, traffics in, or uses as genuine counterfeit coin, Government stamps, currency-notes, or bank-notes, knowing or having reason to believe the item to be counterfeit, is subject to the same penalty. Section 179 BNS also has no separate limb for attempting to induce a person to receive the coin as genuine. The punishment increases from up to two years imprisonment or fine up to ten times coin value under Section 241 IPC to imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for up to ten years, and fine under Section 179 BNS.

IPC 241 vs BNS 179: Comparison Table

AspectIPC 1860 (repealed)BNS 2023 (in force)
Section241179
OffenceDelivery of coin as genuine, which, when first possessed, the deliverer did not know to be counterfeitSame
PunishmentImprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or fine, or both.Imprisonment of either description for up to two years under Section 241 IPC, or fine alone, or both. Section 179 BNS provides imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for up to ten years, and liability to fine.
FineFine which may extend to ten times the value of the coin counterfeited, alone or with imprisonment.Fine up to ten times the value of the counterfeit coin under Section 241 IPC, with fine alone permissible. Under Section 179 BNS, imprisonment must be imposed and the offender is also liable to fine.
BailNon-BailableSame
CognizanceCognizableSame
CompoundableNon-CompoundableSame
Triable ByAny MagistrateSame

IPC 241 and BNS 179: Bare Act Text Side by Side

IPC 1860 (repealed)

Section 241, IPC 1860

241. Delivery of coin as genuine, which, when first possessed, the deliverer did not know to be counterfeit.—Whoever delivers to any other person as genuine, or attempts to induce any other person to receive as genuine, any counterfeit coin which he knows to be counterfeit, but which he did not know to be counterfeit at the time when he took it into his possession, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine to an amount which may extend to ten times the value of the coin counterfeited, or with both. Illustration A, a coiner, delivers counterfeit Company's rupees to his accomplice B, for the purpose of uttering them. B sells the rupees to C, another utterer, who buys them knowing them to be counterfeit. C pays away the rupees for goods to D, who receives them, not knowing them to be counterfeit. D, after receiving the rupees, discovers that they are counterfeit and pays them away as if they were good. Here D is punishable only under this section, but B and C are punishable under section 239 or 240, as the case may be.
BNS 2023 (in force)

Section 179, BNS 2023

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.

Ingredients: IPC 241 vs BNS 179

Under IPC 241
  1. Delivering any counterfeit coin to any other person as genuine, or attempting to induce any other person to receive it as genuine
  2. Knowing the coin to be counterfeit at the time of delivery
  3. Not knowing the coin to be counterfeit at the time when he took it into his possession
Under BNS 179
  1. Importing, exporting, selling, delivering, buying, receiving, trafficking, or using as genuine
  2. Any forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-note, or bank-note
  3. Knowing or having reason to believe the same to be forged or counterfeit
  4. Punishment of imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for up to ten years, and liability to fine

What IPC 241 to BNS 179 Means for Pending Cases

For Section 241 IPC (now Section 179 BNS): for an act done after the BNS came into force, passing off counterfeit coin received innocently is no longer treated under a lighter separate provision, but is charged under Section 179 BNS where the offender faces imprisonment for life or up to ten years and fine.

FAQs: IPC 241 to BNS 179

What changed when Section 241 IPC became Section 179 BNS?▼

Section 179 BNS deletes the separate mitigated rule for persons who took counterfeit coin innocently before passing it off. Section 179 BNS treats all delivery and use of counterfeit coin, Government stamps, and currency under one standard. The penalty increases from up to two years imprisonment or fine up to ten times coin value under Section 241 IPC to imprisonment for life or up to ten years and fine under Section 179 BNS.

Where does Section 241 IPC sit in the BNS?▼

In Section 179 BNS, in Chapter X, Of Offences Relating to Coin, Currency-Notes, Bank-Notes, and Government Stamps.

Does Section 241 IPC or Section 179 BNS apply to an act done before 1 July 2024?▼

Section 241 IPC. Section 358 BNS repealed the IPC from 1 July 2024 but saves any liability already incurred under it, so an act done before that date is still dealt with under Section 241 IPC. Section 179 BNS governs acts done on or after 1 July 2024.

Disclaimer: This comparison is for informational purposes only. The new criminal laws came into effect on 1 July 2024. Consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·