BNS 56 — Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Statutory text

56. Whoever abets an offence punishable with imprisonment shall, if
that  offence  be  not  committed  in  consequence  of  the abetment,  and  no
express provision is made under this Sanhita for the punishment of such
abetment, be punished with imprisonment of any description provided for
that offence for a term which may extend to one-fourth part of the longest
term  provided  for  that  offence;  or  with  such  fine  as  is  provided  for  that
offence, or with both; and if the abettor or the person abetted is a public
servant, whose duty it is to prevent the commission of such offence, the
abettor  shall  be  punished  with  imprisonment  of  any  description  provided
for  that  offence,  for  a  term  which  may  extend  to  one-half  of the  longest
term  provided  for  that  offence,  or  with  such  fine  as  is  provided  for  the
offence, or with both.
Illustrations.
(a) A instigates B to give false evidence. Here, if B does not give false
evidence, A has nevertheless committed the offence defined in this section,
and is punishable accordingly.

 (b) A, a police officer, whose duty it is to prevent robbery, abets the
commission of robbery. Here, though the robbery be not committed, A is
liable  to  one-half  of  the  longest  term  of  imprisonment  provided  for  that
offence, and also to fine.
(c) B abets the commission of a robbery by A, a police officer, whose
duty  it  is  to  prevent  that  offence.  Here,  though  the  robbery  be  not
committed,  B  is  liable  to  one-half  of  the  longest  term  of  imprisonment
provided for the offence of robbery, and also to fine.
Abetting  commission  of  offence  by  public  or  by  more  than  ten
persons.

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