IPC 420 to BNS 318(4): Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property
Section 420 IPC (1860) replaced by Section 318(4) BNS (2023)
IPC 420 to BNS 318(4) at a Glance
Section 420 IPC (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) is now Section 318(4) 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 420 to BNS 318(4)?
Section 420 IPC corresponds to Section 318(4) BNS. Section 318(4) BNS retains the exact ingredients and penalty structure of Section 420 IPC, prescribing imprisonment of either description for a term extending up to seven years and liability to fine. The offence is now arranged as the fourth sub-section of Section 318 BNS, which brings together the definition of cheating and its various penal provisions into a single comprehensive section.
IPC 420 vs BNS 318(4): Comparison Table
| Aspect | IPC 1860 (repealed) | BNS 2023 (in force) |
|---|---|---|
| Section | 420 | 318(4) |
| Offence | Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property | Same |
| Punishment | Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years. | Same |
| Fine | The offender is also liable to fine. The statute does not make fine mandatory and prescribes no fixed limit. | Same |
| Bail | Non-Bailable | Same |
| Cognizance | Cognizable | Same |
| Compoundable | Compoundable | Same |
| Triable By | Magistrate of the first class | Same |
IPC 420 and BNS 318(4): Bare Act Text Side by Side
Section 420, IPC 1860
Section 318(4), BNS 2023
Ingredients: IPC 420 vs BNS 318(4)
- The accused committed cheating within the meaning of Section 415 IPC
- The accused dishonestly induced the person deceived to deliver property to any person, or to make, alter, or destroy a valuable security or anything signed or sealed capable of conversion into a valuable security
- Dishonest intention to cause wrongful gain or wrongful loss was present at the time the deception and inducement took place
- A direct causal link existed between the deception practiced by the accused and the delivery of property or execution of the document
- Commission of cheating as defined under Section 318(1) BNS
- Dishonest inducement causing a person to deliver property or make, alter, or destroy a valuable security
- Presence of dishonest intention at the time the inducement was made
- Punishment under Section 318(4) BNS of imprisonment of either description for up to seven years and liability to fine
What IPC 420 to BNS 318(4) Means for Pending Cases
FAQs: IPC 420 to BNS 318(4)
What changed from Section 420 IPC to Section 318(4) BNS?▼
Section 318(4) BNS reproduces the text and punishment of Section 420 IPC without substantive change. The provision is now housed as the fourth sub-section of Section 318 BNS, retaining the maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment with liability to fine.
Where does Section 420 IPC sit in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?▼
Section 420 IPC is located at Section 318(4) BNS, in Chapter XVII, Of Offences Against Property.
Does Section 420 IPC or Section 318(4) BNS apply to an act done before 1 July 2024?▼
Section 420 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 420 IPC. Section 318(4) 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 ·