BNS §56

Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment

Substantively sameConfidence: mediumStatus: editor verified
Last updated 2026-05-01 · Input coverage: full

Compiled by AI-assisted tools. Text verified against official sources where indicated. Field-level labels (AI-indicated / AI-inferred / Text-verified) apply per edge metadata. Verify current bail/cognizable status against official sources before relying on procedural claims. Last updated: 2026-04-28.

Jump to section

Comparison

Old law
IPC §116
Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment.—if offence be not committed. if abettor or person abetted be a public servant whose duty it is to prevent offence

116. Abetment of offence 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 this 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. Illustrations (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 offence of robbery, and also to fine.

New law
BNS §56
Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment

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 under this Sanhita 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; 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.

What changedAI-inferred

IPC 116 and BNS 56 carry the same rule character-identically — when abetting an imprisonment-eligible offence not actually committed: one-fourth-cap default; one-half-cap if abettor or abetted is a public servant whose duty it is to prevent the offence. All three illustrations preserved.

Old position

IPC 116 is concerned with Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment.—if offence be not committed. if abettor or person abetted be a public servant whose duty it is to prevent offence. Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment

New position

BNS 56 preserves the framework with drafting modernisations as required by the new code. Topic: Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment. 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 under this Sanhita for the punishment of such abetment, be punished with

IPC 116 and BNS 56 carry the same rule character-identically — when abetting an imprisonment-eligible offence not actually committed: one-fourth-cap default; one-half-cap if abettor or abetted is a public servant whose duty it is to prevent the offence. All three illustrations preserved.

Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)

IPC 116 and BNS 56 carry the same rule character-identically — when abetting an imprisonment-eligible offence not actually committed: one-fourth-cap default; one-half-cap if abettor or abetted is a public servant whose duty it is to prevent the offence. All three illustrations preserved.

Transitional note (repeal & savings)

For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IPC 116 continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNS 56 applies. The transition is governed by the repeal-and-savings clause in the new code (BNS 358 / BNSS 531 / BSA 170 as the case may be); pending proceedings under the old code carry forward unaffected.

Frequently asked

BNS 56 (Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment). The relationship is classified as substantively_same — see the change-note above for the textual delta.

Sources

Cite this page

Newlaws.in, IPC §116 → BNS §56 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-06-14, https://newlaws.in/bns/56.

Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01

Not legal advice. Verify against the bare act and consult a qualified advocate for any specific matter.