INDIAN EVIDENCE ACT, 1872
BHARATIYA SAKSHYA ADHINIYAM, 2023
8. Motive, preparation and previous or subsequent conduct.
6. Motive, preparation and previous or subsequent conduct.
changed or removed in old law
changed or added in new law
Similar wording stays plain; only differences are highlighted.
INDIAN EVIDENCE ACT, 1872
8. Motive, preparation and previous or subsequent conduct.––Any fact is relevant which shows or
constitutes a motive or preparation for any fact in issue or relevant fact.
The conduct of any party, or of any agent to any party, to any suit or proceeding, in reference to such
suit or proceeding, or in reference to any fact in issue therein or relevant thereto, and the conduct of any
person an offence against whom is the subject of any proceeding, is relevant, if such conduct influences
or is influenced by any fact in issue or relevant fact, and whether it was previous or subsequent thereto.
Explanation 1.––The word “conduct” in this section does not include statements, unless those
statements accompany and explain acts other than statements; but this explanation is not to affect the
relevancy of statements under any other section of this Act.
Explanation 2.––When the conduct of any person is relevant, any statement made to him or in his
presence and hearing, which affects such conduct, is relevant.
Illustrations
(a) A is tried for the murder of B.
The facts that A murdered C, that B knew that A had murdered C, and that B had tried to extort money
from A by threatening to make his knowledge public, are relevant.
(b) A sues B upon a bond for the payment of money, B denies the making of the bond.
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Queen”.
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The fact that, at the time when the bond was alleged to be made, B required money for a particular
purpose, is relevant.
(c) A is tried for the murder of B by poison.
The fact that, before the death of B, A procured poison similar to that which was administered to B, is
relevant.
(d) The question is, whether a certain document is the will of A.
The facts that, not long before, the date of the alleged will, A made inquiry into matters to which the
provisions of the alleged will relate; that he consulted vakils in reference to making the will, and that he
caused drafts of other wills to be prepared, of which he did not approve, are relevant.
(e) A is accused of a crime.
The facts that, either before, or at the time of, or after the alleged crime, A provided evidence which
would tend to give to the facts of the case an appearance favourable to himself, or that he destroyed or
concealed evidence, or prevented the presence or procured the absence of persons who might have been
witnesses, or suborned persons to give false evidence respecting it, are relevant.
(f) The question is, whether A robbed B.
The facts that, after B was robbed, C said in A’s presence –– “the police are coming to look for the
man who robbed B,” and that immediately afterwards A ran away, are relevant.
(g) The question is, whether A owes B rupees 10,000.
The facts that A asked C to lend him money, and that D said to C in A’s presence and hearing–– “I
advise you not to trust A, for he owes B 10,000 rupees,” and that A went away without making any
answer, are relevant facts.
(h) The question is, whether A committed a crime.
The fact that A absconded, after receiving a letter, warning him that inquiry was being made for the
criminal, and the contents of the letter, are relevant.
(i) A is accused of a crime.
The facts that, after the commission of the alleged crime, he absconded, or was in possession of
property or the proceeds of property acquired by the crime, or attempted to conceal things which were or
might have been used in committing it, are relevant.
(j) The question is, whether A was ravished.
The facts that, shortly after the alleged rape, she made a complaint relating to the crime, the
circumstances under which, and the terms in which, the complaint was made, are relevant.
The fact that, without making a complaint, she said that she had been ravished is not relevant as
conduct under this section, though it may be relevant as a dying declaration under section 32, clause (1),
or as corroborative evidence under section 157.
(k) The question is, whether A was robbed.
The fact that, soon after the alleged robbery, he made a complaint relating to the offence, the
circumstances under which, and the terms in which, the complaint was made, are relevant.
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The fact that he said he had been robbed, without making any complaint, is not relevant, as conduct
under this section, though it may be relevant as a dying declaration under section 32, clause (1), or as
corroborative evidence under section 157.
Repealed / replaced by BSA India Code — IEA 1872
BHARATIYA SAKSHYA ADHINIYAM, 2023
6. Motive, preparation and previous or subsequent conduct.—(1) Any fact is relevant which
shows or constitutes a motive or preparation for any fact in issue or relevant fact.
(2) The conduct of any party, or of any agent to any party, to any suit or proceeding, in reference to
such suit or proceeding, or in reference to any fact in issue therein or relevant thereto, and the conduct of
any person, an offence against whom is the subject of any proceeding, is relevant, if such conduct
influences or is influenced by any fact in issue or relevant fact, and whether it was previous or subsequent
thereto.
Explanation 1.—The word “conduct” in this section does not include statements, unless those
statements accompany and explain acts other than statements; but this explanation is not to affect the
relevancy of statements under any other section of this Adhiniyam.
Explanation 2.—When the conduct of any person is relevant, any statement made to him or in his
presence and hearing, which affects such conduct, is relevant.
Illustrations.
(a) A is tried for the murder of B. The facts that A murdered C, that B knew that A had murdered C,
and that B had tried to extort money from A by threatening to make his knowledge public, are relevant.
(b) A sues B upon a bond for the payment of money. B denies the making of the bond. The fact that,
at the time when the bond was alleged to be made, B required money for a particular purpose, is relevant.
(c) A is tried for the murder of B by poison. The fact that, before the death of B, A procured poison
similar to that which was administered to B, is relevant.
(d) The question is, whether a certain document is the will of A. The facts that, not long before, the
date of the alleged will, A made inquiry into matters to which the provisions of the alleged will relate;
that he consulted advocates in reference to making the will, and that he caused drafts of other wills to be
prepared, of which he did not approve, are relevant.
(e) A is accused of a crime. The facts that, either before, or at the time of, or after the alleged crime,
A provided evidence which would tend to give to the facts of the case an appearance favourable to
himself, or that he destroyed or concealed evidence, or prevented the presence or procured the absence of
persons who might have been witnesses, or suborned persons to give false evidence respecting it, are
relevant.
(f) The question is, whether A robbed B. The facts that, after B was robbed, C said in A's presence—
“the police are coming to look for the person who robbed B”, and that immediately afterwards A ran
away, are relevant.
(g) The question is, whether A owes B ten thousand rupees. The facts that A asked C to lend him
money, and that D said to C in A's presence and hearing—“I advise you not to trust A, for he owes B ten
thousand rupees”, and that A went away without making any answer, are relevant facts.
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(h) The question is, whether A committed a crime. The fact that A absconded, after receiving a letter,
warning A that inquiry was being made for the criminal, and the contents of the letter, are relevant.
(i) A is accused of a crime. The facts that, after the commission of the alleged crime, A absconded, or
was in possession of property or the proceeds of property acquired by the crime, or attempted to conceal
things which were or might have been used in committing it, are relevant.
(j) The question is, whether A was raped. The fact that, shortly after the alleged rape, A made a
complaint relating to the crime, the circumstances under which, and the terms in which, the complaint
was made, are relevant. The fact that, without making a complaint, A said that A had been raped is not
relevant as conduct under this section, though it may be relevant as a dying declaration under clause (a)
of section 26, or as corroborative evidence under section 160.
(k) The question is, whether A was robbed. The fact that, soon after the alleged robbery, A made a
complaint relating to the offence, the circumstances under which, and the terms in which, the complaint
was made, are relevant. The fact that A said he had been robbed, without making any complaint, is not
relevant, as conduct under this section, though it may be relevant as a dying declaration under clause (a)
of section 26, or as corroborative evidence under section 160.
Current law India Code — BSA 2023