INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860
BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023
111. Liability of abettor when one act abetted and different act done.
51. Liability of abettor when one act abetted and different act done.
changed or removed in old law
changed or added in new law
Similar wording stays plain; only differences are highlighted.
INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860
Liability of abettor when one act abetted and different act done.
111. Liability of abettor when one act abetted and different act
done.--When an Act is abetted and a different act is done, the abettor
is liable for the act done, in the same manner and to the same extent
as if he had directly abetted it:
Proviso.
Proviso.--Provided the act done was a probable consequence of the
abetment, and was committed under the influence of the instigation, or
with the aid or in pursuance of the conspiracy which constituted the
abetment.
Illustrations
(a) A instigates a child to put poison into the food of Z, and
gives him poison for that purpose. The child, in consequence of the
instigation, by mistake puts the poison into the food of Y, which is
by the side of that of Z. Here if the child was acting under the
influence of A's instigation, and the act done was under the
circumstances a probable consequence of the abetment, A is liable in
the same manner and to the same extent as if he had instigated the
child to put the poison into the food of Y.
(b) A instigates B to burn Z's house. B sets fire to the house
and at the same time commits theft of property there. A, though guilty
of abetting the burning of the house, is not guilty of abetting the
theft; for the theft was a distinct act, and not a probable
consequence of the burning.
(c) A instigates B and C to break into an inhabited house at
midnight for the purpose of robbery, and provides them with arms for
that purpose. B and C break into the house, and being resisted by Z,
one of the inmates, murder Z. Here, if that murder was the probable
consequence of the abetment, A is liable to the punishment provided
for murder.
Repealed / historical reference India Code — IPC 1860
BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023
51. Liability of abettor when one act abetted and different act done.—When an act is abetted and
a different act is done, the abettor is liable for the act done, in the same manner and to the same extent as
if he had directly abetted it:
Provided that the act done was a probable consequence of the abetment, and was committed under
the influence of the instigation, or with the aid or in pursuance of the conspiracy which constituted the
abetment.
Illustrations.
(a) A instigates a child to put poison into the food of Z, and gives him poison for that purpose. The
child, in consequence of the instigation, by mistake puts the poison into the food of Y, which is by the
side of that of Z. Here, if the child was acting under the influence of A’s instigation, and the act done was
under the circumstances a probable consequence of the abetment, A is liable in the same manner and to
the same extent as if he had instigated the child to put the poison into the food of Y.
(b) A instigates B to burn Z’s house, B sets fire to the house and at the same time commits theft of
property there. A, though guilty of abetting the burning of the house, is not guilty of abetting the theft; for
the theft was a distinct act, and not a probable consequence of the burning.
(c) A instigates B and C to break into an inhabited house at midnight for the purpose of robbery, and
provides them with arms for that purpose. B and C break into the house, and being resisted by Z, one of
the inmates, murder Z. Here, if that murder was the probable consequence of the abetment, A is liable to
the punishment provided for murder.
Current law India Code — BNS 2023