Section 118 of the Code determines a special form of abatment by way of did in concealment of a design to commit a crime. This act gives facilities to offenders for the commission of a crime. Such act of concealment in order to be punishable must be an intentional act or at least with the knowledge that it might help the commission of a crime; Queen v. Jhugroo, (1865) 4 WR (Cr) 2.
Section 118 of the Code reads as under:
118.
Whoever intending to facilitate or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby facilitate the commission of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life;
voluntarily conceals by any act or omission or by the use of encryption or any other information hiding tool, 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 that offence be committed, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or, if the offence be not committed, with imprisonment of either description, for a term which may extend to three years; and in either case shall also be liable to fine.
Illustration
A, knowing that dacoity is about to be committed at B, falsely informs the Magistrate that a dacoity is about to be committed at C, a place in an opposite direction, and thereby misleads the Magistrate with intent to facilitate the commission of the offence. The dacoity is committed at B in pursuance of the design. A is punishable under this section.
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