Section 112 IPC: Abettor Liable to Cumulative Punishment for Act Abetted and Act Done
Section 112 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 deals with the additional liability of an abettor where the act covered by Section 111 is committed in addition to the act originally abetted and the additional act constitutes a distinct offence.
Text and meaning of Section 112 IPC
If the act for which the abettor is liable under the last preceding section is committed in addition to the act abetted, and constitutes a distinct offence, the abettor is liable to punishment for each of the offences.
In simple terms, Section 112 applies when the person abetted commits the contemplated act and also commits another act for which the abettor becomes liable under Section 111 IPC. If that additional act amounts to a separate offence, the abettor may be punished for each offence rather than only for the act originally abetted.
Connection between Sections 111 and 112 IPC
Section 111 extends an abettor's liability to a different act done by the person abetted where that different act is a probable consequence of the abetment and is committed under the influence of the instigation, with the aid, or in pursuance of the conspiracy constituting the abetment. Section 112 then addresses the situation in which such an additional act is committed alongside the act originally abetted and itself constitutes a distinct offence.
Essential elements of Section 112
For Section 112 to operate, there must first be an act abetted. A further act for which the abettor is liable under Section 111 must also be committed. That further act must be in addition to the act abetted and must constitute a distinct offence. Where these conditions are satisfied, Section 112 provides for liability to punishment for each offence.
Statutory illustration
A instigates B to resist by force a distress made by a public servant. B, in consequence, resists that distress. In offering the resistance, B voluntarily causes grievous hurt to the officer executing the distress.
As B has committed both the offence of resisting the distress and the offence of voluntarily causing grievous hurt, B is liable to punishment for both offences. If A knew that B was likely voluntarily to cause grievous hurt in resisting the distress, A will also be liable to punishment for each offence.
Why Section 112 is important
The provision distinguishes between liability for the act that was actually encouraged or facilitated and liability for a separate additional offence arising in the course of carrying out that act. It must therefore be read with the rules governing abetment, particularly Section 107 IPC, Section 108 IPC, and Sections 109 to 111 IPC.
Historical status after commencement of BNS
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 repealed the Indian Penal Code and, except for the separately treated provision in Section 106(2), came into force on 1 July 2024. Its repeal-and-savings provision preserves, among other things, the previous operation of the IPC and liabilities, penalties, investigations and proceedings relating to offences under the repealed Code. Accordingly, this page should be read as an IPC reference for the pre-BNS legal regime and saved matters rather than as a statement that Section 112 IPC governs new post-commencement conduct.