Section 471 IPC: Using as genuine a forged document or electronic record

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 471 IPC at a Glance

Section 471 IPC deals with using as genuine a forged document or electronic record. It is bailable and cognizable, triable by Magistrate of the first class; from 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 340(2) BNS.

Punishment

By reference. The offender is punished in the same manner as if the offender had forged the document or electronic record: imprisonment of either description for up to two years, or fine, or both, under Section 465 IPC; up to seven years and liability to fine under Section 466 IPC or Section 468 IPC; up to three years and liability to fine under Section 469 IPC; or imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for up to ten years, and liability to fine, under Section 467 IPC.

Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘNon-Compoundable ⓘ🏛️ Magistrate of the first class ⓘ
BNS Equivalent

Section 340(2) →

Section 471 IPC Bare Act Text

471. Using as genuine a forged document or electronic record

Whoever fraudulently or dishonestly uses as genuine any document or electronic record which he knows or has reason to believe to be a forged document or electronic record, shall be punished in the same manner as if he had forged such document or electronic record.

Source: Section 471, Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 471 IPC in Simple Words

Section 471 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punishes any person who fraudulently or dishonestly uses as genuine any document or electronic record which that person knows or has reason to believe to be a forged document or electronic record. The section does not enact a separate fixed term of imprisonment.

Instead, it provides that the offender shall be punished in the same manner as if the offender had forged the document or electronic record, borrowing the punishment from the specific forgery provision that governs such an instrument. A forged document or electronic record is defined in Section 470 IPC.

Under the First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, an offence under Section 471 IPC is cognizable and bailable, and it is triable by a Magistrate of the first class. The offence is not compoundable under Section 320 CrPC.

Ingredients of Section 471 IPC

  • The document or electronic record was a forged document or electronic record as defined in Section 470 IPC
  • The accused used the forged document or electronic record as genuine
  • The accused knew or had reason to believe that the document or electronic record was forged
  • The accused acted fraudulently or dishonestly in putting the document or electronic record to use

Punishment Under Section 471 IPC

Imprisonment

By reference. The offender is punished in the same manner as if the offender had forged the document or electronic record: imprisonment of either description for up to two years, or fine, or both, under Section 465 IPC; up to seven years and liability to fine under Section 466 IPC or Section 468 IPC; up to three years and liability to fine under Section 469 IPC; or imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for up to ten years, and liability to fine, under Section 467 IPC.

Fine

By reference. Fine follows the section applicable to the forged document: fine alone or in addition under Section 465 IPC; liability to fine in addition to mandatory imprisonment under Section 466 to Section 469 IPC.

Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘNon-Compoundable ⓘ🏛️ Magistrate of the first class ⓘ

Section 471 IPC is punishable in the same manner as if the offender had forged the document or electronic record. Under the First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the offence is cognizable, bailable and triable by a Magistrate of the first class. It is not compoundable.

Example of Section 471 IPC

In 2022 in Ranchi, Vikram applied for the post of senior accountant at a textile company. He purchased a fabricated university degree certificate from an agent named Sohan, knowing that the university had never issued the certificate and that it was a forged document. Vikram dishonestly submitted the forged degree certificate to the selection board of the textile company as a genuine qualification to obtain employment. By dishonestly using as genuine a document which he knew to be a forged document, Vikram is punishable under Section 471 IPC.

When Section 471 IPC Does Not Apply

  • A person presents a forged document or electronic record in good faith, neither knowing nor having reason to believe that it is forged.
  • The document or electronic record put to use is authentic and was not made wholly or in part by forgery.
  • A person keeps a forged document in their possession without ever presenting or using it as genuine.
  • A person hands a forged document over to the police or a court solely as evidence of a crime rather than claiming it is authentic.

Section 471 IPC in the BNS

Section 471 IPC is now covered under Section 340(2) BNS.

Section 471 IPC corresponds to Section 340(2) BNS. The wording, elements and reference-based punishment remain unchanged. Section 340(2) BNS consolidates the definition of a forged document from Section 470 IPC as Section 340(1) BNS and the offence of using it as genuine from Section 471 IPC as Section 340(2) BNS.

View detailed comparison (IPC 471 vs BNS 340(2)) →

FAQs on Section 471 IPC

What punishment does Section 471 IPC prescribe?▼

Section 471 IPC prescribes no independent term of imprisonment. The offender is punished in the same manner as if the offender had forged the document, carrying up to two years under Section 465 IPC, up to seven years under Section 466 IPC, or imprisonment for life or up to ten years under Section 467 IPC.

Is Section 471 IPC bailable?▼

Yes. The First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 lists Section 471 IPC as bailable, so the accused is entitled to bail as of right. It is cognizable and triable by a Magistrate of the first class, including where the forged document is a promissory note of the Central Government.

What are the essential ingredients of Section 471 IPC?▼

The prosecution must establish that the document or electronic record was a forged document under Section 470 IPC, that the accused used it as genuine, that the accused knew or had reason to believe it was forged, and that the accused acted fraudulently or dishonestly.

Is reason to believe sufficient under Section 471 IPC without actual knowledge?▼

Yes. Section 471 IPC applies where the accused knows or has reason to believe that the document or electronic record is forged. Under Section 26 IPC, a person has reason to believe a thing if the person has sufficient cause to believe that thing.

Can a person be punished under Section 471 IPC without having made the forged document?▼

Yes. Section 471 IPC targets the act of fraudulently or dishonestly using a forged document as genuine. A person who did not participate in fabricating the document can still be convicted under Section 471 IPC if that person used it knowing or having reason to believe it was forged.

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Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Bare Act Text, Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·