Legal Provisions of Section 256 of Indian Penal Code, 1860.
Having possession of instrument or material for counterfeiting Government stamp:
This section penalises possession of instruments or material for the purpose of counterfeiting government stamps. Preparation to commit a crime has been made an offence under this section. The section states that whoever possesses any instrument or material for the purpose of being used, or having knowledge or having reason to believe that it is intended to be used, for the purpose of counterfeiting any government stamp issued for the purpose of revenue, shall be punished with simple or rigorous imprisonment for a term extending up to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
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ADVERTISEMENTS:
The section requires that the instrument or material must be in possession of the accused. His purpose must be to use the same for counterfeiting any government stamp issued for revenue, or he must have knowledge or reason to believe that the same is intended to be used for such counterfeiting. This section resembles section 235 of the Code.
The offence under this section is cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable, and is triable by magistrate of the first class.