ABETMENT

Indian Penal Code - Section 107

1. Indian Penal Code
ABETMENT
JISHIN JAFAR

2. JishinJafarLP jjinception
What is Abetment ?
Theactofhelpingorencouragingsomeonetodo
somethingwrongorillegal(Cambridgedictionary)
Theword'abet'hasbeendefinedas“meaningtoaid;to
assistortogiveaid;tocommand,toprocure,orto
counsel;tocountenance;toencourage;induce,orassist,to
encourageortosetanotheronetocommit.”(SCinKartar
Singhv/sStateofPunjab)
2

3. SECTION -107
Abetment of a thing
LP jj inception

4. Abetmentofathing.—Aperson
abetsthedoingofathing,who—
First.—Instigates any person to do that thing; or
Secondly—Engageswithoneormoreother
personorpersonsinanyconspiracyforthe
doingofthatthing,ifanactorillegalomission
takesplaceinpursuanceofthatconspiracy,and
inordertothedoingofthatthing;or
Thirdly—Intentionallyaids,byanyactorillegal
omission,thedoingofthatthing.
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5. Explanation 1
Apersonwho,bywilful
misrepresentation,orbywilful
concealmentofamaterialfactwhich
heisboundtodisclose,voluntarily
causesorprocures,orattemptstocause
orprocure,athingtobedone,issaidto
instigatethedoingofthatthing
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6. Illustration
A,apublicofficer,isauthorisedbya
warrantfromaCourtofJusticeto
apprehendZ,B,knowingthatfactand
alsothatCisnotZ,wilfullyrepresents
toAthatCisZ,andthereby
intentionallycausesAtoapprehendC.
HereBabetsbyinstigationthe
apprehensionofC.
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7. Explanation 2
Whoever,eitherpriortooratthetime
ofthecommissionofanact,does
anythinginordertofacilitatethe
commissionofthatact,andthereby
facilitatesthecommissionthereof,is
saidtoaidthedoingofthatact.
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8. 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
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9. Abetment by Instigation
Incites-urges-encourages-goads-solicits-
provokes:todoanactprohibitedbylawissaid
instigation
Adviceamountstoinstigationwhenactive
suggestionsorstimulationfromapersonfor
thecommissionofanoffence.
Queenv.Mohit(1871):instigatetobeasati
anditleadstosuicide.
ProtimaDuttav.State(1977-WB)
Explanation1–wilfulmisrepresentationor
wilfulconcealment.
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10. Abetment by Conspiracy
Anagreementwithoneormorepersonsto
doalegalactbyillegalmeansortodoan
illegalact
Example:
Aservantagreedtothievesthattokeepthe
doorsofhismaster’shouseopeninnightso
theymightcommittheft.
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11. Abetment by Aid
Intentionallyrenderassistanceorgivesaidby
doinganactorcommittingtodoanact.
Mereintentiontorenderassistanceisnot
sufficient.
Explanation2statesthatapersonabetsbyaiding.
Example:Apriestwhoofficiatesatabigamous
marriagewasheldtohaveintentionallyaidedin
thecommissionofamarriageprohibitedbylaw.
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12. References
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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’,4
th
edition, Universal
Law Publishing Co.