Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
BNS Section 56
Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment
In one line
BNS Section 56 deals with abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment and replaces IPC 116.
Punishment, bail and court
| Section | Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56 | Abetment of an offence, punishable with imprisonment, if the offence be not committed in consequence of the abetment. | Imprisonment extending to one-fourth of the longest term provided for the offence, or fine, or both. | According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable. | According as offence abetted is bailable or non-bailable. | Court by which offence abetted is triable. |
| 56 | If the abettor or the person abetted be a public servant whose duty it is to prevent the offence. | Imprisonment extending to one-half of the longest term provided for the offence, or fine, or both. | According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable. | According as offence abetted is bailable or non-bailable. | Court by which offence abetted is triable. |
Source: First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The punishment column is the Schedule’s summary; the section text below is what prescribes the punishment. Classification decides procedure (arrest, bail as of right, which court), not the result of any particular case.
Bare act text — BNS 56
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. Illustrations. (a) 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. (b) 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. (c) 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.
What changed from the IPC
- IPC 116 → BNS 56: The words "if offence be not committed" are excluded from the heading.
- IPC 116 → BNS 56: The heading of paragraph 2, "If abettor or person abetted be a public servant whose duty it is to prevent offence" is excluded.
- IPC 116 → BNS 56: The word "by" is replaced by "under".
Frequently asked
What was BNS Section 56 in the IPC?
BNS Section 56 (Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment) replaces Section 116 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. IPC 116 is now BNS 56.
Still citing the IPC? Convert any old section in seconds, or keep the whole case — dates, clients and sections — in one diary.
Nearby BNS sections
- BNS 51 — Liability of abettor when one act abetted and different act done
- BNS 52 — Abettor when liable to cumulative punishment for act abetted and for act done
- BNS 53 — Liability of abettor for an effect caused by act abetted different from that intended by abettor
- BNS 54 — Abettor present when offence is committed
- BNS 55 — Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life
- BNS 57 — Abetting commission of offence by public or by more than ten persons
- BNS 58 — Concealing design to commit offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life
- BNS 59 — Public servant concealing design to commit offence which it is his duty to prevent
- BNS 60 — Concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment
- BNS 61 — Criminal conspiracy