16. Abetment of an offence.—A person abets an offence, who—
First.—Instigates any person to do that offence; or
Secondly.— Engages with one or more other person or persons in any conspiracy for the doing of
that offence, if an act or illegal omission takes place in pursuance of that conspiracy, and in order to
the doing of that offence; or
Thirdly.—Intentionally aids, by any act or illegal omission, the doing of that offence.
Explanation I.—A person who, by wilful misrepresentation, or by wilful concealment of a material
fact, which he is bound to disclose, voluntarily causes or procures, or attempts to cause or procure a thing
to be done, is said to instigate the doing of that offence.
Explanation II.—Whoever, either prior to or at the time of commission of an act, does anything in
order to facilitate the commission of that act, and thereby facilitates the commission thereof, is said to aid
the doing of that act.
Explanation III.—Whoever employ, harbours, receives or transports a child, by means of threat or use
of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of a position,
vulnerability or the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having
control over another person, for the purpose of any offence under this Act, is said to aid the doing of that
act.
1. Subs. by Act 25 of 2019, s. 7, for section 14 (w.e.f. 16-08-2019).
2. Subs. by s. 8, ibid., for section 15 (w.e.f. 16-08-2019).
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17. Punishment for abetment.—Whoever abets any offence under this Act, if the act abetted is
committed in consequence of the abetment, shall be punished with punishment provided for that offence.
Explanation.— An act or offence is said to be committed in consequence of abetment, when it is
committed in consequence of the instigation, or in pursuance of the conspiracy or with the aid, which
constitutes the abetment.
18. Punishment for attempt to commit an offence.—Whoever attempts to commit any offence
punishable under this Act or to cause such an offence to be committed, and in such attempt, does any act
towards the commission of the offence, shall be punished with imprisonment of any description provided
for the offence, for a term which may extend to one half of the imprisonment for life or, as the case may
be, one-half of the longest term of imprisonment provided for that offence or with fineor with both.