Whoever fraudulently or dishonestly performs on any Indian coin any operation which diminishes the weight or alters the composition of that coin, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
IPC Section 247: Simplified Explanation
IPC Section 247 deals with the offence of fraudulently or dishonestly diminishing the weight or altering the composition of any coin, not necessarily limited to government-issued currency. This section is aimed at maintaining the trustworthiness and standard value of all types of coins that might be used in transactions. The act involves any modification that reduces the coin’s weight or changes its material composition with the intent to defraud or deceive others.
The critical elements of this offence include:
- The accused must have fraudulently or dishonestly diminished the weight or altered the composition of a coin.
- The act must be intentional and aimed at defrauding or deceiving others.
Is IPC Section 247 bailable?
No, IPC Section 247 is a non-bailable offence. This means that bail is not granted as a matter of right, and the accused can only be released on bail at the discretion of the court, considering the specifics of the case.
IPC Section 247 Punishment
The punishment for an offence under IPC Section 247 is imprisonment of either description (simple or rigorous) for a term which may extend to three years, along with a fine. This punishment underscores the seriousness of the offence and its potential impact on the economy and public trust in the currency.
Example of IPC Section 247
Consider a scenario involving a street vendor named Lata. Lata acquires a batch of old coins from various sources. To make a profit, she decides to scrape off a thin layer of metal from each coin and sell the collected metal separately. She then puts the diminished coins back into circulation. Customers and other vendors soon notice that the coins are lighter than usual and report this to the authorities. An investigation reveals that Lata has been scraping off the metal from the coins. As a result, Lata is charged under IPC Section 247 for fraudulently diminishing the weight of the coins, and she faces the prescribed punishment for this severe offence.
