Forgery under IPC (Sections 467, 468, 471): Explained with BNS Mapping (2026)

Legal Section Explainer · Criminal Law

Updated for 2026 · Claw Editorial

A cheque, a property deed or a will is only worth something if it is genuine, and a charge of forgery can follow when someone says it is not. Forgery of valuable security (Section 467), forgery for cheating (Section 468) and using a forged document as genuine (Section 471) are the three IPC sections most often pleaded together. This guide explains each one in plain words, with the punishment, bail position and BNS 2023 equivalent. It was last checked in October 2026.

01The short definition

Sections 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC punish three related acts: forging a valuable security or will (467), forging a document to cheat (468), and knowingly using a forged document as if it were genuine (471). Each builds on the basic definition of forgery in Section 463. Section 467 is the most serious, with imprisonment for life or up to 10 years, plus fine.

Making the false document is one offence. Using it is another. A person can be charged under both, and the person who used it need not be the person who made it.

Courts see these sections mostly in cheque fraud, property and title disputes, fake educational or experience certificates, and disputes over wills and bank documents. They are almost always pleaded along with cheating (Section 420) and criminal conspiracy (Section 120B).

02What the base offence of forgery is

You cannot understand Section 467, 468 or 471 without the sections that sit underneath them.

Making a false document (Section 464)

A person makes a false document when they dishonestly or fraudulently make, sign, seal or alter a document, or its electronic record, to make it look like it was made by someone else, or at another time, or by someone who did not authorise it. Signing a document in someone else’s name is the classic case.

Forgery (Section 463)

Whoever makes a false document or false electronic record intending to cause damage or injury to the public or any person, to support any claim or title, to make a person part with property, to enter into an express or implied contract, or to commit fraud, commits forgery.

Plain forgery (Section 465)

Section 465 gives the general punishment for forgery: imprisonment up to 2 years, or fine, or both. Sections 467 and 468 are the aggravated forms with heavier punishment.

03Section 467, 468 and 471 one by one

Section 467: forgery of valuable security or will

This section applies when the forged document is a valuable security, a will, or a document that authorises someone to adopt a son, or one that gives authority to make or transfer a valuable security or to receive money, goods or property. A cheque, promissory note, share certificate or a power of attorney to sell property are common examples. The punishment is imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either kind up to 10 years, and the person is also liable to fine.

Section 468: forgery for the purpose of cheating

This applies when the forgery is done intending that the document will be used to cheat. The intention to cheat is the key difference from plain forgery. The punishment is imprisonment of either kind up to 7 years, and fine.

Section 471: using a forged document as genuine

Whoever fraudulently or dishonestly uses as genuine any document or electronic record that they know or have reason to believe is forged is punished in the same way as if they had forged it. So the punishment depends on the document used. Using a forged will or cheque is punished like Section 467. Using a forged document that only amounts to plain forgery is punished like Section 465.

Section 470 defines a “forged document”, and Section 471 uses that definition. Merely having a forged document is not enough for Section 471. There must be fraudulent or dishonest use, and knowledge or reason to believe that it is forged.

04Key ingredients the prosecution must prove

For a conviction, the court looks for each of these elements. Missing one is often the basis of the defence.

For Section 467

• The accused made a false document or electronic record (Section 464).
• It was done with a forgery intention under Section 463, such as to cause damage, support a claim or commit fraud.
• The document is one of the kinds listed in the section: a valuable security, a will, or an authority to transfer or receive.

For Section 468

• Forgery as defined in Section 463 is made out.
• The accused intended that the forged document will be used for cheating.

For Section 471

• The document is forged.
• The accused used it, or tried to use it, as genuine.
• The accused knew or had reason to believe it was forged.
• The use was fraudulent or dishonest.

05Cognizable, bailable, triable by

The First Schedule of the CrPC classifies these offences as follows.

Cognizable means the police can register an FIR and arrest without a warrant. Non-bailable means bail is not a matter of right and the court uses its discretion. Section 471 follows the classification of the forgery that matches the document used.

06Bail, defence and quashing

How bail works

Because 467 and 468 are non-bailable, the accused applies to the Magistrate or Sessions Court. Courts usually weigh the nature of the document, the role of the accused, whether the original document is already with the police, the risk of tampering with evidence, and the time already spent in custody. Where an arrest is feared, anticipatory bail is sought. Under the CrPC these are Sections 437, 439 and 438. The BNSS has matching provisions.

Common defences

• The document is genuine, or the signature is the accused’s own.
• There was no dishonest or fraudulent intent, or no intent to cause damage or support a claim.
• For Section 471, the accused did not know the document was forged.
• The case is a civil dispute about title or a contract that has been given a criminal colour.
• There is no reliable handwriting or forensic evidence to link the accused to the document.

Quashing

An accused can ask the High Court to quash an FIR or proceedings using its inherent powers (Section 482 of the CrPC, and the matching BNSS provision). Courts are cautious. They quash where the allegations, even if taken as true, do not make out the ingredients above, or where a purely civil dispute is being used for pressure. Since the offences are non-compoundable, a settlement alone does not end the case, though High Courts sometimes weigh it when deciding on quashing.

Reading how courts have treated these sections is the fastest way to build the argument. If you only need the cause list for a hearing, see our Bombay High Court cause list guide.

07BNS 2023 and BNSS 2023 equivalents

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 replaced the IPC for offences committed on or after 1 July 2024. Forgery is covered in a group of sections, and the numbers differ from the IPC.

• IPC 467 is now BNS 338: forgery of a valuable security, will and similar documents.
• IPC 468 (forgery for cheating) is now part of BNS 336, which also contains the definition of forgery and the general punishment.
• IPC 471 is now part of BNS 340, which also contains the definition of a forged document.

Please note that the number may differ and several IPC sections have been merged into one BNS section with sub-sections, so always cite the exact sub-section from the bare act. The punishment is substantially the same, and the meaning of forgery now clearly covers electronic records and digital signatures. The procedural law has moved from the CrPC to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, so bail, arrest and quashing now cite BNSS sections.

Offences committed before 1 July 2024 are still dealt with under the IPC. For the full table, see our IPC to BNS section mapping. Related sections are covered in our guides on Section 307 (attempt to murder) and Sections 499 and 500 (defamation).

08Where Claw fits

Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.

For a forgery matter, the real work is finding how courts have read intent, proof of authorship and the line between a civil dispute and a crime. Claw covers 9,102 forums, with 30 crore+ judgments searchable in under 5 seconds, so you can search on a section number and see how courts have applied it. You can also track related cases by party name. Create a FREE Claw account to search 30 crore+ judgments on this section and track related cases by party name.

09Sources and further reading

• Indian Penal Code and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita bare acts: indiacode.nic.in
• Claw: clawlaw.in

This page is general information, not legal advice. Last verified October 2026. Always check the current bare act and the latest judgments before relying on any section.

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