Code of Criminal Procedure Act, 1973
223.What persons may be charged jointly.-
The following persons may be charged and tried
together, namely:-
(a) persons accused of the same offence committed in the course of the same
transaction;
(b) persons accused of an offence and persons accused of abetment of, or
attempt to commit, such offence;
(c) persons accused of more than one offence of the same kind, within the
meaning of section 219 committed by them jointly within the period of twelve
months;
(d) persons accused of different offences committed in the course of the same
transaction;
(e) persons accused of an offence which includes theft, extortion, cheating, or
criminal misappropriation, and persons accused of receiving or retaining, or
assisting in the disposal or concealment of, property possession of which is
alleged to have been transferred by any such offence committed by the
first-named persons, or of abetment of or attempting to commit any such
last-named offence;
(f) persons accused of offences under sections 411 and 414 of the Indian Penal
Code(45 of 1860) or either of those sections in respect of stolen property the
possession of which has been transferred by one offence;
(g) Persons accused of any offence under Chapter XII of the Indian Penal
Code(45 of1860) relating to counterfeit coin and persons accused of any other
offence under the said Chapter relating to the same coin, or of abetment of or
attempting to commit any such offence; and the provisions contained in the
former part of this Chapter shall, so far as may be, apply to all such charges:
Provided that where a number of persons are charged with separate
offences and such persons do not fall within any of the categories specified in
this section, the Magistrate may, if such persons by an application in writing,
so desire, and if he is satisfied that such persons would not be prejudicially
affected thereby, and it is expedient so to do, try all such persons together.