Section 207 IPC: Fraudulent claim to property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or in execution
Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 207 IPC at a Glance
Section 207 IPC deals with fraudulent claim to property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or in execution. It is bailable and non-cognizable, triable by any Magistrate; from 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 244 BNS.
Imprisonment of either description for up to two years.
Section 207 IPC Bare Act Text
207. Fraudulent claim to property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or in execution
Whoever fraudulently accepts, receives or claims any property or any interest therein, knowing that he has no right or rightful claim to such property or interest, or practices any deception touching any right to any property or any interest therein, intending thereby to prevent that property or interest therein from being taken as a forfeiture or in satisfaction of a fine, under a sentence which has been pronounced, or which he knows to be likely to be pronounced by a Court of Justice or other competent authority, or from being taken in execution of a decree or order which has been made, or which he knows to be likely to be made by a Court of Justice in a civil suit, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Source: Section 207, Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 207 IPC in Simple Words
Section 207 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punishes fraudulently accepting, receiving or claiming property or any interest in it, knowing that he has no right or rightful claim to it, or practising deception touching any right to property, to prevent its seizure. The act must be intended to prevent the property from being taken as a forfeiture or in satisfaction of a fine under a sentence pronounced or known to be likely to be pronounced by a Court of Justice or other competent authority, or from being taken in execution of a decree or order made or known to be likely to be made by a Court of Justice in a civil suit.
The punishment is imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or fine, or both. The offence is non-cognizable and bailable, and it is triable by any Magistrate.
Ingredients of Section 207 IPC
- The accused fraudulently accepted, received or claimed any property or any interest in property, knowing that he had no right or rightful claim to it, or practised deception touching any right to property
- The accused intended thereby to prevent that property or interest from being taken as a forfeiture or in satisfaction of a fine under a sentence, or from being taken in execution of a decree or order
- The sentence was pronounced or known to be likely to be pronounced by a Court of Justice or other competent authority, or the decree or order was made or known to be likely to be made by a Court of Justice in a civil suit
Punishment Under Section 207 IPC
Imprisonment of either description for up to two years.
The offender may be punished with fine alone or with both imprisonment and fine. The section fixes no amount.
Claiming property without right or practising deception to prevent seizure as forfeited or in execution carries imprisonment for up to two years, or fine, or both.
Example of Section 207 IPC
When Section 207 IPC Does Not Apply
- A person receives or claims property in good faith without fraud and without practising any deception regarding the right to the property.
- The person claiming or receiving the property genuinely holds a valid legal right or does not know that he lacks a rightful claim to it.
- The claim, receipt, or acceptance of the property is not intended to prevent its seizure for forfeiture, satisfaction of a fine under a sentence, or execution of a civil decree or order.
Section 207 IPC in the BNS
Section 207 IPC is now covered under Section 244 BNS.
Section 207 IPC is now Section 244 BNS. The words Court of Justice become Court and the spelling practices becomes practises, while the punishment remains imprisonment for up to two years, or fine, or both.
View detailed comparison (IPC 207 vs BNS 244) →FAQs on Section 207 IPC
What does Section 207 IPC provide?▼
It punishes whoever fraudulently accepts, receives or claims property without right, or practises deception touching any right to property, intending to prevent it from being taken as forfeiture or in satisfaction of a fine under sentence, or in execution of a decree or order.
What is the punishment under Section 207 IPC?▼
Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or fine, or both.
What must the person know regarding the property under Section 207 IPC?▼
The person must know that he has no right or rightful claim to such property or interest when fraudulently accepting, receiving or claiming it.
Which proceedings does Section 207 IPC cover?▼
It covers sentences pronounced or likely to be pronounced by a Court of Justice or other competent authority, and decrees or orders made or likely to be made by a Court of Justice in a civil suit.
Is an offence under Section 207 IPC cognizable and bailable?▼
It is non-cognizable and bailable.
Which court tries an offence under Section 207 IPC?▼
Any Magistrate.
Can an offence under Section 207 IPC be compounded?▼
No. It is not listed in Section 320 CrPC.
Where is Section 207 IPC in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?▼
In Section 244 BNS.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·