THE INDIAN PENAL CODE
ACT NO. 45 OF 1860
CHAPTER VA
CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY
120A. Definition of criminal conspiracy.—When two or more persons agree to do, or cause to be
done,
(1) an illegal act, or
(2) 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.—It is immaterial whether the illegal act is the ultimate object of such agreement, or is
merely incidental to that object.
120B. Punishment of criminal conspiracy.—(1) Whoever is a party to a criminal conspiracy to
commit an offence punishable with death, 1[imprisonment for life] or rigorous imprisonment for a term of
two years or upwards, shall, where no express provision is made in this Code for the punishment of such a
conspiracy, be punished in the same manner as if he had abetted such offence.
(2) Whoever is a party to a criminal conspiracy 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.]