Anbarasan E, BBA LLB (Hons), Alliance School of Law
INTRODUCTION
The chapter five of Indian penal code, 1860 deals with the concept of abetment. Before knowing about abetment, the term abet should be explained. The term abet is to assist someone to do something which is a wrong. In the concept of abetment, the term ‘mens rea’ has an essential part.
The term mens rea is having intention to commit a crime or knowledge of an action which can cause a crime whereas actus rea is an act or omission that causes a crime. In abetment the person who had mens rea but doesn’t involve in actus rea then also the person is punishable. Mens rea is an essential element for abetment it says that prosecuting a person for the crime of abetment, it should be checked whether mens rea is present or not and the prosecution is liable to prove the guilty intention.
