IPC Section 116 - Abetment of offenc e punishable with imprisonment --if offence be not committed

116. Abetment of offenc e punishable with imprisonment --if offence be not committed

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 by th is Code 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;

if abettor or person abetted be a public servant whose duty it is to prevent offence .--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.

Illustration s

(a) A offers a bribe to B, a public servant, as a reward for showing. A some favour in the exercise of B's official functions. B

refuses to accept the bribe. A is punishable under this section.

(b) 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.

(c) 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.

(d) 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 offenc e of robbery, and

also to fine.