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Section history

Section 120A — Definition of criminal conspiracy

As in force on 30 November 2008.

Timeline 5 versions
  1. 30 March 1987 Enacted
  2. 1 February 2008 Act 51 of 2007
  3. 30 November 2008 Revised edition
  4. 1 January 2020 Act 15 of 2019
  5. 17 August 2026 Latest
Revised edition in force 30 November 2008

The text below is this provision as reproduced in the Revised Edition that came into force on this date. A revised edition consolidates the law without changing its substance, so editorial amendments — such as renumbering, updated citations and formatting — may have been made but are not shown as a redline.

120A.Definition of criminal conspiracy

(1)When 2 or more persons agree to do, or cause to be done —

(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.

(2)A person may be a party to a criminal conspiracy notwithstanding the existence of facts of which he is unaware which make the commission of the illegal act, or the act, which is not illegal, by illegal means, impossible.

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

[Indian PC 1860, s. 120A]