The three new bills such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Bill, 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) Bill, 2023; and Bharatiya Sakshya (BS) Bill, 2023 that will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, Criminal Procedure Act (CrPC), 1898, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 respectively.

In the new proposed bill in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The BNS has no Section 420 of the IPC, which relates to the offence of cheating, and covers its Section 316.

As per the IPC Section 420 ("Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property"), "Whoever cheats and thereby dishonestly induces [a] person...to deliver any property..., or to make, alter or destroy the whole or any part of a valuable security, or anything which is signed or sealed...shall be punished with imprisonment...which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine."

The BNS (Proposed), 2023: There is no Section 420 in the proposed Sanhita. The offence of cheating is covered under Section 316. As per Section 316 (1) of BNS, "Whoever, by deceiving any person, fraudulently or dishonestly induces the person...to deliver any property..., or intentionally induces the person...to do or omit to do anything which he would not do or omit if he were not so deceived, and which act or omission causes or is likely to cause damage or harm to that person in body, mind, reputation or property, is said to "cheat"."

Under Sections 316(2), (3), and (4), the punishment for cheating may extend upto three years, five years, or seven years, along with a fine.

Source: BusinessStandard and TimesNow