Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 · Chapter II: Relevancy of Facts · Admissions
Section 24: Consideration of proved confession affecting person making it and others jointly under trial for same offence
In plain words
When several people are tried jointly for the same offence, and a proved confession by one of them implicates both himself and others, the court may take it into account against the others too.
- "Offence" includes abetment and attempt.
- A trial held in the absence of an absconding accused or one who ignores a proclamation counts as a joint trial for this purpose.
Example: A and B are tried together for murdering C, and A says, "B and I murdered C." The court may consider this against B. If B were not being tried with A, it could not.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
When more persons than one are being tried jointly for the same offence, and a confession made by one of such persons affecting himself and some other of such persons is proved, the Court may take into consideration such confession as against such other person as well as against the person who makes such confession.
Explanation I.—"Offence", as used in this section, includes the abetment of, or attempt to commit, the offence.
Explanation II.—A trial of more persons than one held in the absence of the accused who has absconded or who fails to comply with a proclamation issued under section 84 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 shall be deemed to be a joint trial for the purpose of this section
Illustrations
(a) A and B are jointly tried for the murder of C. It is proved that A said—"B and I murdered C". The Court may consider the effect of this confession as against B.
(b) A is on his trial for the murder of C. There is evidence to show that C was murdered by A and B, and that B said— "A and I murdered C". This statement may not be taken into consideration by the Court against A, as B is not being jointly tried.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 25 August 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 24
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.