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

Summary

If a person encourages or helps someone else to commit a crime that is punishable by imprisonment, but the crime is not actually carried out because of that encouragement, and there is no other specific rule in this Code for punishing such encouragement, then the person can be punished. The punishment can be imprisonment for up to one-fourth of the longest jail term set for that crime, or a fine as set for that crime, or both.

Official Text

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;

Related Judgments

• PUNJAB AND SINDH BANK v. VINKAR SAHAKARI BANK LTD. AND ORS. SEPTEMBER 17, 2001 B — Supreme Court of India (S)
• SC (2018) Vol.6 p.1 — Supreme Court of India (2018)
• .. Petitioner vs 1. The Secretary, — Madras High Court (2019)
• SC (2025) Vol.1 p.1674 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• THR LRS v. MAHANT SURESH DAS & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2019)
• SANJA Y KUMAR KEDIA v. NARCOTICS CONTROL BUREAU & ANR. DECEMBER 3, 2007 B — Supreme Court of India (2007)
• ...Petitioners in all Crl.Ops vs A. Ravi — Madras High Court (2012)
• : Appellant/De facto complainant in Crl.A.(MD).No.251 of 2016. vs State, Rep by the Inspector of Police, — Madras High Court ()

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNS §56 — Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment