Abetment of
offence
punishable
with
imprisonment.
- 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.