Whoever, being employed in any mint lawfully established in India, does any act, or omits what he is legally bound to do, with the intention of causing any coin issued from that mint to be of a different weight or composition from the weight or composition fixed by law, 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 244: Simplified Explanation
IPC Section 244 deals with the offence committed by a person employed in a mint who unlawfully conceals any coining instrument or material used for coining. A mint is an establishment where coins are produced, and the integrity of its operations is crucial for maintaining the trust and reliability of the currency. This section aims to prevent and penalize any fraudulent activities by mint employees who might misuse their access to coining instruments or materials for unlawful purposes.
The critical elements of this offence include:
- The accused must be employed in a mint.
- The accused must unlawfully conceal coining instruments or materials.
- The intention behind such concealment must be fraudulent.
Is IPC Section 244 bailable?
No, IPC Section 244 is a non-bailable offence. This means that bail is not granted as a matter of right, and the accused can be released on bail only at the discretion of the court, considering the specifics of the case.
IPC Section 244 Punishment
The punishment for an offence under IPC Section 244 is imprisonment of either description (simple or rigorous) for a term which may extend to three years, or with a fine, or with both. This punishment reflects the seriousness of the offence, given the potential impact on the integrity of the currency system.
Example of IPC Section 244
Imagine a scenario involving a man named Suraj, who works at a government mint. Suraj has access to various coining instruments and materials used to produce official currency. One day, Suraj decides to take some of the coining secretly dies (tools used to stamp the design on coins) and hides them in his locker at home with the intention of using them later to create counterfeit coins. However, his colleagues noticed his suspicious behaviour and an internal investigation was initiated. During the investigation, the concealed coining dies are discovered in Suraj’s locker. As a result, Suraj is charged under IPC Section 244 for unlawfully concealing coining instruments, and he faces the prescribed punishment for this severe and fraudulent offence.
