Indian Penal Code
ABETMENT
JISHIN JAFAR
Jishin JafarLP jj inception
What is Abetment ?
 The act of helping or encouraging someone to do
something wrong or illegal (Cambridge dictionary )
 The word 'abet' has been defined as “meaning to aid; to
assist or to give aid; to command, to procure, or to
counsel; to countenance; to encourage; induce, or assist, to
encourage or to set another one to commit.” (SC in Kartar
Singh v/s State of Punjab)
2
SECTION -107
Abetment of a thing
LP jj inception
Abetment of a thing.—A person
abets the doing of a thing, who—
First.—Instigates any person to do that thing; or
Secondly —Engages with one or more other
person or persons in any conspiracy for the
doing of that thing, if an act or illegal omission
takes place in pursuance of that conspiracy, and
in order to the doing of that thing; or
Thirdly —Intentionally aids, by any act or illegal
omission, the doing of that thing.
LP jj inception
Explanation 1
A person who, by wilful
misrepresentation, or by wilful
concealment of a material fact which
he is bound to disclose, voluntarily
causes or procures, or attempts to cause
or procure, a thing to be done, is said to
instigate the doing of that thing
LP jj inception
Illustration
A, a public officer, is authorised by a
warrant from a Court of Justice to
apprehend Z, B, knowing that fact and
also that C is not Z, wilfully represents
to A that C is Z, and thereby
intentionally causes A to apprehend C.
Here B abets by instigation the
apprehension of C.
LP jj inception
Explanation 2
Whoever, either prior to or at the time
of the commission of an act, does
anything in order to facilitate the
commission of that act, and thereby
facilitates the commission thereof, is
said to aid the doing of that act.
LP jj inception
Essentials and Meaning of Abetment
The instigation of a person to do (or not ) an
act in a certain way or aid given by some
person to another either of his on accord or
under instigation in doing an act which is an
offence.
i. Instigate a person to commit an offence or
ii. Engages with one or more persons in a
conspiracy to commit an offence or
iii. Intentionally aids a person by any act or
illegal omission to commit an offence
LP jj inception
Abetment by Instigation
Incites-urges-encourages-goads-solicits-
provokes: to do an act prohibited by law is said
instigation
 Advice amounts to instigation when active
suggestions or stimulation from a person for
the commission of an offence .
 Queen v. Mohit (1871): instigate to be a sati
and it leads to suicide.
 Protima Dutta v. State (1977-WB)
 Explanation 1 – wilful misrepresentation or
wilful concealment.
LP jj inception
Abetment by Conspiracy
 An agreement with one or more persons to
do a legal act by illegal means or to do an
illegal act
Example :
 A servant agreed to thieves that to keep the
doors of his master’s house open in night so
they might commit theft.
LP jj inception
Abetment by Aid
Intentionally render assistance or gives aid by
doing an act or committing to do an act.
Mere intention to render assistance is not
sufficient.
Explanation 2 states that a person abets by aiding.
Example: A priest who officiates at a bigamous
marriage was held to have intentionally aided in
the commission of a marriage prohibited by law.
LP jj inception
References
LP jj inception
1. Section 107, Chapter 5 in Indian Penal Code
(2019), Ministry of Law and Justice ,
Government of India.
2. Chapters 5 in K.D Gaur (2009), ‘Textbook on
The Indian Penal Code’, 4th edition, Universal
Law Publishing Co.

ABETMENT

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Jishin JafarLP jjinception What is Abetment ?  The act of helping or encouraging someone to do something wrong or illegal (Cambridge dictionary )  The word 'abet' has been defined as “meaning to aid; to assist or to give aid; to command, to procure, or to counsel; to countenance; to encourage; induce, or assist, to encourage or to set another one to commit.” (SC in Kartar Singh v/s State of Punjab) 2
  • 3.
    SECTION -107 Abetment ofa thing LP jj inception
  • 4.
    Abetment of athing.—A person abets the doing of a thing, who— First.—Instigates any person to do that thing; or Secondly —Engages with one or more other person or persons in any conspiracy for the doing of that thing, if an act or illegal omission takes place in pursuance of that conspiracy, and in order to the doing of that thing; or Thirdly —Intentionally aids, by any act or illegal omission, the doing of that thing. LP jj inception
  • 5.
    Explanation 1 A personwho, by wilful misrepresentation, or by wilful concealment of a material fact which he is bound to disclose, voluntarily causes or procures, or attempts to cause or procure, a thing to be done, is said to instigate the doing of that thing LP jj inception
  • 6.
    Illustration A, a publicofficer, is authorised by a warrant from a Court of Justice to apprehend Z, B, knowing that fact and also that C is not Z, wilfully represents to A that C is Z, and thereby intentionally causes A to apprehend C. Here B abets by instigation the apprehension of C. LP jj inception
  • 7.
    Explanation 2 Whoever, eitherprior to or at the time of the commission of an act, does anything in order to facilitate the commission of that act, and thereby facilitates the commission thereof, is said to aid the doing of that act. LP jj inception
  • 8.
    Essentials and Meaningof Abetment The instigation of a person to do (or not ) an act in a certain way or aid given by some person to another either of his on accord or under instigation in doing an act which is an offence. i. Instigate a person to commit an offence or ii. Engages with one or more persons in a conspiracy to commit an offence or iii. Intentionally aids a person by any act or illegal omission to commit an offence LP jj inception
  • 9.
    Abetment by Instigation Incites-urges-encourages-goads-solicits- provokes:to do an act prohibited by law is said instigation  Advice amounts to instigation when active suggestions or stimulation from a person for the commission of an offence .  Queen v. Mohit (1871): instigate to be a sati and it leads to suicide.  Protima Dutta v. State (1977-WB)  Explanation 1 – wilful misrepresentation or wilful concealment. LP jj inception
  • 10.
    Abetment by Conspiracy An agreement with one or more persons to do a legal act by illegal means or to do an illegal act Example :  A servant agreed to thieves that to keep the doors of his master’s house open in night so they might commit theft. LP jj inception
  • 11.
    Abetment by Aid Intentionallyrender assistance or gives aid by doing an act or committing to do an act. Mere intention to render assistance is not sufficient. Explanation 2 states that a person abets by aiding. Example: A priest who officiates at a bigamous marriage was held to have intentionally aided in the commission of a marriage prohibited by law. LP jj inception
  • 12.
    References LP jj inception 1.Section 107, Chapter 5 in Indian Penal Code (2019), Ministry of Law and Justice , Government of India. 2. Chapters 5 in K.D Gaur (2009), ‘Textbook on The Indian Penal Code’, 4th edition, Universal Law Publishing Co.