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Section 61 of The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023


Definition of Section 61 BNS According to the Government of India


What is Section 61 BNS?

Criminal conspiracy.β€” (1) When two or more persons agree with the common object to do, or cause to be doneβ€”

  • (a) an illegal act; or
  • (b) an act which is not illegal by illegal means, such an agreement is designated a criminal conspiracy:

Provided that no agreement except an agreement to commit an offence shall amount to a criminal conspiracy unless some act besides the agreement is done by one or more parties to such agreement in pursuance thereof.

Explanation.β€” It is immaterial whether the illegal act is the ultimate object of such agreement, or is merely incidental to that object.

(2) Whoever is a party to a criminal conspiracy,β€”

  • (a) to commit an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life or rigorous imprisonment for a term of two years or upwards, shall, where no express provision is made in this Sanhita for the punishment of such a conspiracy, be punished in the same manner as if he had abetted such offence;
  • (b) other than a criminal conspiracy to commit an offence punishable as aforesaid shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding six months, or with fine or with both.

Varun Kumar Jha

Varun Kumar Jha is a Legal Researcher and the founder of LLB Varun. The content is written and reviewed by , a dedicated legal author with an LL.B. background from Karnataka State Law University (KSLU). 🌐 Connect: LinkedIn | Contact Editor.