The Hindu : National : Conviction for counterfeiting U.S. dollars upheld

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 19, 2004

National

National

Conviction for counterfeiting U.S. dollars upheld

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV. 18. The Supreme Court has ruled that the expression "currency notes" in the Indian Penal Code was large and wide enough and not restricted to Indian currency notes alone.

Upholding the conviction and sentence of rigorous imprisonment for seven years imposed on two accused by the Madras High Court for counterfeiting U.S. currency of $20 denomination in Tamil Nadu in 1982, a Bench, comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and C. K. Thakker, said the provisions of Section 489 IPC dealt with various economic offences in respect of forged or counterfeit currency notes or bank notes.

The accused had contended that the expression "currency notes" in the IPC would refer only to Indian currency and not foreign ones and hence these provisions would not be applicable to them.

Rejecting this, the Bench said if the material showed that the accused knowingly performed any part of the process of counterfeiting, the provisions of Section 498 IPC would become applicable.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National