Witness not excused from answering on ground that answer will criminate
Chapter 9: Of witnesses
A witness shall not be excused from answering any question as to any matter relevant to the matter in issue in any suit or in any civil or criminal proceeding, upon the ground that the answer to such question will criminate, or may tend directly or indirectly to criminate, such witness, or that it will expose, or tend directly or indirectly to expose, such witness to a penalty or forfeiture of any kind:
Provided that no such answer, which a witness shall be compelled to give, shall subject him to any arrest or prosecution, or be proved against him in any criminal proceeding, except a prosecution forgiving false evidence by such answer.
The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (Act No. 47 of 2023). As printed in the Gazette on 25 December 2023. Later amendments, if any, are not included.
Related sections
- 133Privilege not waived by volunteering evidenceEvidence Act 128
- 134Confidential communication with legal advisersEvidence Act 129
- 135Production of title-deeds of witness not a partyEvidence Act 130
- 136Production of documents or electronic records which another person, having possession, could refuse to produceEvidence Act 131
- 138AccompliceEvidence Act 133
- 139Number of witnessesEvidence Act 134