justice. To constitute common intention, it is necessary that intention of each one of them be known to the rest of them and shared by them. Undoubtedly, it is a difficult thing to prove even the intention of an individual and, therefore, it is all the more difficult to show the common intention of a group of persons. But however difficult may be the task, the prosecution must lead evidence of facts, circumstances and conduct of the accused from which their common intention can be safely gathered. In Maqsoodan v. State of U.P. [(1983) 1 SCC 218 : 1983 SCC (Cri) 176 : AIR 1983 SC 126] it was observed that prosecution must lead evidence from which the common intention of the accused can be safely gathered. In most cases it has to be inferred from the act, conduct or other relevant circumstances of the case in hand. The totality of the circumstances must be taken into consideration in arriving at a conclusion whether the accused had a common intention to commit offence for which they can be convicted. The facts and circumstances of cases vary and each case has to be decided keeping in view the facts involved. Whether an act is in furtherance of the common intention is an incident of fact and not of law. In Bhaba Nanda Sarma v. State of Assam [(1977) 4 SCC 396 : 1977 SCC (Cri) 602 : AIR 1977 SC 2252] it was observed that prosecution must prove facts to justify an inference that all participants of the acts had shared a common intention to commit the criminal act which was finally committed by one or more of the participants. Mere presence of a person at the time of commission of an offence by his confederates is not, in itself sufficient to bring his case within the purview of Section 34, unless community of design is proved against him. (See Malkhan Singh v. State of U.P. [(1975) 3 SCC 311 : 1974 SCC (Cri) 919 : AIR 1975 SC 12] ) In the Oxford English Dictionary, the word “furtherance” is defined as “action of helping forward”. Adopting this definition, Russell says that “it indicates some kind of aid or assistance producing an effect in future” and adds that any act may be regarded as done in furtherance of the ultimate felony if it is a step intentionally taken, for the purpose of effecting that felony. (Russell on Crime, 12th Edn., Vol. I, pp.487 and 488.) In Shankarlal Kacharabhai v. State of Gujarat [AIR 1965 SC 1260 : (1965) 2 Cri LJ 266] this Court has interpreted the word “furtherance” as “advancement or promotion”. ”
