Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 188
Unlawfully taking coining instrument from mint
Whoever, without lawful authority, takes out of any mint, lawfully established in India, any coining tool or instrument, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Why this exists
Mints are highly secure government facilities that make the nation's coins, and the tools used there (dies, punches, stamps) can be misused to produce fake or unauthorized coins. This provision, carried forward from the old Indian Penal Code (Section 233), aims to protect the integrity of the currency system by criminalizing the unauthorized removal of such specialized coining equipment, even before any counterfeiting actually happens.
Common misconceptions
- Myth: You must actually make fake coins to be punished under this law.
Fact: The offence is complete simply by taking the coining tool out of the mint without authorization; making counterfeit coins is not required.