New Delhi: Even keeping a photocopy of a fake
document is an offence and the person can be prosecuted on
charges of forgery and cheating, the Delhi High Court said
today.
The court said recovery of a fake document is not a
necessary requirement to book a person for the crime as copies
similar to original can be made by using the latest
technology.
"Photocopying a document, which is not genuine, and with
the kind of technology that is available now wherein exactly
similar copies of the original can be made, would fall within
the ambit of making a false document," Justice Mukta Gupta
said.
The court dismissed the plea of a person, caught with the
photocopy of a fake visa, who had contended that he cannot be
booked for cheating or forgery as he was holding only the
photocopy of fake visa and the original document was not
recovered.
"With the advent of technology, scanners and computerized
colour photocopiers produce identical copies which are exactly
similar to the original. Excluding photocopying/printing from
the ambit of a false document would be giving too narrow a
reading," the court said.
"If a document, which is not genuine, is being used as
such and a person is made to part with money on that basis,
then not only the offence of cheating but also the offence of
forgery is attracted," the court said.
PTI
