Indian Penal Code 1860 – Section 222- Offence of harbouring an offender is made out when (a) an offence has been committed, (b) when the accused harbours or conceals a person whom he knows or has reason to believe to be the offender and (c) the harbouring or concealing must be with the intention of screening him from legal punishment. Therefore, the knowledge on the part of the person who has allegedly committed offence under Section 212 of the IPC of the offence committed by the person allegedly harboured is a necessary ingredient. Either there has to be a knowledge that the person harboured has committed a crime or that the accused had knowledge of certain facts on the basis of which he or she had a reason to believe that the person harboured appears to be an offender.
