If a person commits a crime voluntarily or after preparation the doing of it involves four different stages. In every crime, there is first intention to commit it, secondly, preparation to commit it, thirdly, attempt to commit it and fourthly the accomplishment. The stages can be explained as under

There are 4 stages of crime:

1. Intention

2. Preparation

3. Attempt

4. Accomplishment/Completion

Intention: (Koi Galat kaam krne ki Iccha ya Khayal)

A goal, purpose, or aim is called an intention. It’s something you mean to do, whether you pull it off or not.

Intention is the very first stage in the process of executing an offence. But law does not take notice of an intention, mere intention to commit an offence not followed by any act, cannot constitute an offence. The obvious reason for not prosecuting the accused at this stage is that it is very difficult for the prosecution to prove the guilty mind of a person.

Preparation: (Jaha se laut sakte hai bina nuksaan pohonchaye)

Preparation is the second stage in the commission of a crime. It means to arrange the necessary measures for the commission of the intended criminal act. Intention alone or the intention followed by a preparation is not enough to constitute the crime. Preparation has not been made punishable because in most of the cases the prosecution has failed to prove that the preparations in the question were made for the commission of the particular crime.

Preparation When Punishable

Generally, preparation to commit any offence is not punishable but in some exceptional cases preparation is punishable, exceptional circumstances-

· Preparation to wage war against the Government – Section 122, IPC 1860;

· Preparation to commit depredation on territories of a power at peace with Government of India- Section 126, IPC 1860;

· Preparation to commit dacoity- Section 399, IPC 1860; [More than 5 people]

· Preparation for counterfeiting of coins or Government stamps- Sections 233-235, S. 255 and S. 257;

· Possessing counterfeit coins, false weight or measurement and forged documents.

Mere possession of these is a crime and no possessor can plead that he is still at the stage of preparation- Sections 242, 243, 259, 266 and 474.

Attempt: [Jaha se ap wo kaam kiye bina laut nhi sakte]

Attempt is the direct movement towards the commission of a crime after the preparation is made. According to English law, a person may be guilty of an attempt to commit an offence if he does an act which is more than merely preparatory to the commission of the offence; and a person will be guilty of attempting to commit an offence even though the facts are such that the commission of the offence is impossible. There are three essentials of an attempt:-

· Guilty intention to commit an offence;

· Some act done towards the commission of the offence;

· The act must fall short of the completed offence.

Accomplishment Or Completion: [Kar guzarna]

The last stage in the commission of an offence is its accomplishment or completion. If the accused succeeds in his attempt to commit the crime, he will be guilty of the complete offence and if his attempt is unsuccessful he will be guilty of an attempt only. For example, A fires at B with the intention to kill him, if B dies, A will be guilty for committing the offence of murder and if B is only injured, it will be a case of attempt to murder.