Section 182 BNS: Making or Using Documents Resembling Currency Notes or Bank Notes

Text of Section 182 BNS

Meaning and Scope of Section 182

Section 182 is aimed at documents that are made, used or delivered in a form resembling genuine currency-notes or bank-notes closely enough to be calculated to deceive. The provision is distinct from the more serious BNS offences concerning forged or counterfeit currency. Its focus is the making or use of a document that purports to be, resembles, or closely resembles a currency-note or bank-note in the manner described by the section.

Sub-section (2) imposes a separate consequence where a person whose name appears on such a document refuses, without lawful excuse, to give a police officer the name and address of the person who printed or otherwise made it.

Essential Ingredients of Section 182 BNS

For an offence under Section 182(1)

The prosecution must bring the case within the statutory acts of making, causing to be made, using for any purpose, or delivering a document. The document must purport to be, resemble, or so nearly resemble a currency-note or bank-note as to be calculated to deceive.

For an offence under Section 182(2)

The person's name must appear on a document whose making constitutes an offence under sub-section (1). Upon a police officer requiring disclosure, the person must refuse, without lawful excuse, to disclose the name and address of the printer or other maker.

Punishment, Cognizability, Bailability and Trial Court

Presumption Under Section 182(3)

Where a person's name appears on the document forming the subject of a charge under sub-section (1), or on another document used or distributed in connection with it, the court may presume, until the contrary is proved, that the person caused the document to be made. The statutory wording therefore makes the presumption rebuttable.

Related BNS Provisions

For connected offences concerning coin, Government stamps, currency-notes and bank-notes, see the neighbouring provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023:

• Section 181 - Making or possessing instruments or materials for forging or counterfeiting coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes
• Section 183 - Effacing writing from substance bearing Government stamp or removing a used stamp with intent to cause loss to Government
• Section 184 - Using Government stamp known to have been before used
• Section 185 - Erasure of mark denoting that stamp has been used
• Section 186 - Prohibition of fictitious stamps
• Section 187 - Person employed in mint causing coin to be of different weight or composition from that fixed by law
• Section 188 - Unlawfully taking coining instrument from mint

Official Legal Resources

For authoritative statutory text and commencement information, consult the official Government of India sources linked in the right sidebar. In case of any discrepancy, the Gazette of India and the official bare Act prevail.