Forgery of valuable security, will, etc
What this section does
Prescribes the most severe punishment for forgery of documents of the highest financial or personal significance, including valuable securities, wills, adoption authorities, instruments authorising transfer or receipt of money or property, and acquittances or receipts.
AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).
Quick reference
- Punishment
- Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description up to 10 years, and fine
- Triable by
- Sessions Court
- Cognizable
- Yes
- Bailable
- No
- Compoundable
- No
Ingredients (what prosecution must prove)
- Commission of forgery as defined in section 336
- The forged document purports to be a valuable security, a will, an authority to adopt a son, an authority to make or transfer a valuable security, an authority to receive principal/interest/dividends, an authority to receive or deliver money or movable property, or an acquittance or receipt for money or movable property
Practitioner note
The maximum punishment of life imprisonment reflects the gravity of forging instruments that directly affect property rights and financial transactions.
- IPC Section 467 — Forgery of valuable security
Read the official text
For the binding statutory text of BNS Section 338, refer to the Gazette of India or the India Code official website.
Why this matters
BNS Section 338 forms part of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita which replaced the Indian Penal Code 1860 on 1 July 2024. Any new filing, FIR, charge sheet, or bail application made on or after that date should cite the new section number. References to the old act in legacy documents remain valid for matters that arose before the changeover.