(1) Whoever--

(a) contravenes the provisions of section 3; or

(b) knowingly furnishes any false information or suppresses any material information with a view to obtaining a passport or travel document under this Act or without lawful authority alters or attempts to alter or causes to alter the entries made in a passport or travel document; or

(c) fails to produce for inspection his passport or travel document (whether issued under this Act or not) when called upon to do so by the prescribed authority; or

(d) knowingly uses a passport or travel document issued to another person; or

(e) knowingly allows another person to use a passport or travel document issued to him,

shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 1 [two years or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees] or with both.

2 [(1A) Whoever, not being a citizen of India,--

(a) makes an application for a passport or obtains a passport by suppressing information about his nationality, or

(b) holds a forged passport or any travel document,

shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to five years and with fine which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees but which may extend to fifty thousand rupees.]

(2) Whoever abets any offence punishable under 3 [sub-section (1) or sub-section (1A)] shall, if the act abetted is committed in consequence of the abetment, be punishable with the punishment provided in that sub-section for that offence.

(3) Whoever contravenes any condition of a passport or travel document or any provision of this Act or any rule made thereunder for which no punishment is provided elsewhere in this Act shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or with both.

(4) Whoever, having been convicted of an offence under this Act, is again convicted of an offence under this Act shall be punishable with double the penalty provided for the latter offence.

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Footnote :

1. Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for "six months or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees" (w.e.f. 1-7-1993).
2. Ins. by Act 35 of 1993 s. 6, (w.e.f. 1-7-1993).
3. Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for "sub-section (1)" (w.e.f. 1-7-1993)