INDIAN CRIMINAL LAW | UPDATED 30 OCTOBER 2026
IPC Section 251: Delivery of Indian Coin Known to Be Altered
Section 251 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 punished fraudulent delivery, or attempted inducement to accept, an altered Indian coin when the accused knew of the alteration on acquiring it. For conduct governed by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the relevant provisions are Sections 178 and 179.
What did IPC Section 251 provide?
IPC Section 251 was titled "Delivery of Indian coin, possessed with knowledge that it is altered". It applied where a person possessed an Indian coin on which an offence under IPC Section 247 (fraudulently or dishonestly diminishing its weight or altering its composition) or IPC Section 249 (altering its appearance to pass it as another kind of coin) had been committed.
To attract Section 251, the person had to know of that offence when the coin came into their possession and thereafter fraudulently, or intending that fraud might be committed, deliver it to someone else or attempt to induce another person to receive it.
Essential ingredients under IPC Section 251
- The article was an Indian coin that had been altered in the manner contemplated by IPC Section 247 or 249.
- The accused possessed that coin and knew, when first obtaining it, that the specified alteration had occurred.
- The accused delivered the coin to another person or attempted to induce someone to accept it.
- The act was fraudulent or done with intent that fraud might be committed.
Historical punishment: imprisonment of either description for a term extending to ten years, and liability to a fine. This is the punishment stated in IPC Section 251, not a separate current BNS penalty.
Current law: BNS Sections 178 and 179
BNS Section 178 - Counterfeiting coin
Section 178 punishes counterfeiting coins, Government revenue stamps, currency-notes and bank-notes. Explanation (4) addresses causing a genuine coin to appear like a different coin with deceptive intent or knowledge; Explanation (5) expressly includes diminishing a coin's weight, altering its composition or altering its appearance within counterfeiting coin. The definition of "coin" refers to Section 2 of the Coinage Act, 2011 and includes certain coins issued under the authority of another State or Sovereign Power.
Punishment under Section 178: imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description up to ten years, and a fine, where its elements are established.
BNS Section 179 - Using as genuine forged or counterfeit coin
Section 179 covers importing, exporting, selling, delivering, buying, receiving, trafficking in or using as genuine a forged or counterfeit coin, Government stamp, currency-note or bank-note, while knowing or having reason to believe it is forged or counterfeit. Its scope is wider than the former IPC Section 251 and does not reproduce every historical element word for word.
Punishment under Section 179: imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description up to ten years, and a fine.
IPC Section 251 and current BNS provisions compared
| Issue | IPC Section 251 (historical) | BNS (current) |
|---|---|---|
| Conduct | Fraudulent delivery or attempted inducement to receive an altered Indian coin | Section 179: knowing dealing in or use as genuine of forged or counterfeit coin |
| Alteration of coin | Linked to IPC Sections 247 and 249 | Section 178, Explanations (4) and (5) |
| Knowledge | Knowledge of alteration when first obtaining the coin | Knowledge or reason to believe the coin is forged or counterfeit |
| Maximum punishment | Up to ten years and fine | Section 179: life imprisonment or up to ten years and fine |
| Applicability | Earlier offences, subject to savings | Offences governed by BNS from 1 July 2024 |
Illustrative example
A person knowingly obtains coins whose appearance has been altered to make them look like higher-value genuine coins. The person then passes them to a shopkeeper as genuine. Depending on the evidence and date of conduct, the historical IPC Section 251 or current BNS Section 179 may be relevant. The prosecution must establish the applicable statutory elements; mere innocent handling of an altered coin is not automatically this offence.
Related legal provisions
IPC Section 250 addressed delivery of certain altered coins generally; IPC Section 251 specifically concerned Indian coin. Under the BNS, Section 180 separately addresses possession of forged or counterfeit coin with the prescribed knowledge and intent to use it as genuine, and provides a lawful-source explanation.
Official legal sources
- Ministry of Home Affairs / NCRB - Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita chapter text
- Bureau of Police Research and Development - Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita reference PDF
- India Code - Official central legislation repository
This article is general legal information. The precise charge and applicable law depend on the date, facts and statutory requirements of the case.