IPC Section 120: Concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment
Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Chapter 5: Abetment
Repealed on 1 July 2024 and replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).
¶Whoever, intending to facilitate or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby facilitate the commission of an offence punishable with imprisonment, voluntarily conceals, by any act or illegal omission, the existence of a design to commit such offence, or makes any representation which he knows to be false respecting such design, If offence be committed-if offence be not committed.-shall, if the offence be committed, be punished with imprisonment of the description provided for the offence, for a term which may extend to one-fourth, and, if the offence be not committed, to one-eighth, of the longest term of such imprisonment, or with such fine as is provided for the offence, or with both.
¶CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE
¶Para I
¶Punishment-Imprisonment extending to a quarter part 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-Triable by court by which offence abetted is triable-Non-compoundable.
¶Para II
¶Punishment-Imprisonment extending to one-eighth part of the longest term provided for the offence, or fine, or both-According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable-Bailable-Triable by court by which offence abetted is triable-Non-compoundable.
Study: explanations and related material
Now BNS 60 (same provision). IPC → BNS converterSource: BPR&D BNS–IPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-06-28), p4
Official reference: Delhi District & Sessions Judge: government historical reference — source link checked: 2 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2024-06-30.Mobile-app reference import; the recorded snapshot date is not a fresh legal-currency guarantee. The linked government text is an independent authoritative reference, not certification that this website reproduces the same edition. The source link was checked, not every provision or subsequent amendment. Check commencement notifications, savings and jurisdiction-specific variations separately. Historical code retained for reference; read the repeal/savings provisions in the successor code.
This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 107. Abetment of a thing
- 108. Abettor
- 108A. Abetment in India of offences outside India
- 109. Punishment of abetment if the act abetted is committed in consequence, and where no express provision is made for its punishment
- 110. Punishment of abetment if person abetted does act with different intention from that of abettor
- 111. Liability of abettor when one act abetted and different act done
- 112. Abettor when liable to cumulative punishment for act abetted and for act done
- 113. Liability of abettor for an effect caused by the act abetted different from that intended by the abettor
- 114. Abettor present when offence is committed
- 115. Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life-if offence not committed
- 116. Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment-if offence be not committed
- 117. Abetting commission of offence by the public or by more than ten persons
- 118. Concealing design to commit offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life
- 119. Public servant concealing design to commit offence which it is his duty to prevent