Whoever makes or performs any part of the process of making, or buys, or sells, or disposes of, any instrument for the purpose of being used, or knowing or having reason to believe that it is intended to be used, for the purpose of counterfeiting any stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, 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 257: Simplified Explanation
IPC Section 257 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) addresses the offence of making or selling instruments intended for counterfeiting coins. This section targets individuals who manufacture or sell tools, machinery, or materials specifically designed to produce counterfeit coins.
Is IPC Section 257 bailable?
No, IPC Section 257 is a non-bailable offence. This means that the accused does not have an automatic right to be released on bail and must apply for bail before a magistrate or judge, who will then decide whether or not to grant bail based on the specifics of the case.
IPC Section 257 Punishment
The punishment for IPC Section 257 is imprisonment of either description for a term that may extend to ten years and with a fine. This reflects the seriousness of the offence, given that making or selling instruments for counterfeiting coins is a significant step towards committing a major crime against the economy and public trust.
Example of IPC Section 257
Consider a scenario where a person named Vikram runs an underground workshop where he manufactures presses and dies specifically designed for making counterfeit coins. Vikram then sells these tools to various criminal networks involved in counterfeiting operations. During a police raid, Vikram is caught in the act of selling a set of these instruments to an undercover officer. The investigation reveals that Vikram was aware that the instruments he manufactured and sold were intended for counterfeiting coins. In this case, Vikram can be prosecuted under IPC Section 257 for making and selling instruments for counterfeiting coins.
