IPC 468 → BNS 336(3): Forgery for Cheating

IPC 468 (now BNS 336(3)): Forgery for the Purpose of Cheating

IPC Section 468 punishes forgery committed with the intention that the forged document or electronic record shall be used for the purpose of cheating. From 1 July 2024 it continues as Section 336(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023.

Punishment under BNS 336(3) (same as IPC 468)

Imprisonment up to 7 years, and fine. Because the forgery is aimed at cheating, the law treats it more seriously than ordinary forgery; the penalty is unchanged from old IPC 468.

What changed from IPC to BNS?

There is no major change — the offence and 7-year punishment carry over, with the numbering moving from IPC 468 to BNS 336(3). The express inclusion of electronic records keeps the section relevant to digital and document fraud. New FIRs cite BNS 336(3).

Worked example

A forges a salary slip and a bank statement so that he can obtain a loan he is not entitled to. Because the forgery was created specifically to cheat the lender, the act falls under BNS 336(3) rather than the lighter ordinary-forgery provision.

Practical notes

• For advocates: read BNS 336(3) with the definition of forgery (IPC 463 to BNS 336) and the offence of using a forged document as genuine (IPC 471 to BNS 340); the end-cheating is charged under cheating (IPC 420 to BNS 318(4)).
• Forgery-for-cheating cases live or die on the documentary and expert evidence — secure it early.