15. Facts bearing on question whether act was accidental or intentional.–
–When there is a
question whether an act was accidental or intentional, 1[or done with a particular knowledge or intention,]
the fact that such act formed part of a series of similar occurrences, in each of which the person doing the
act was concerned, is relevant.
Illustrations
(a) A is accused of burning down his house in order to obtain money for which it is insured.
The facts that A lived in several houses successively each of which he insured, in each of which a fire occurred,
and after each of which fires A received payment from a different insurance office, are relevant, as tending to show
that the fires were not accidental.
(b) A is employed to receive money from the debtors of B. It is A’s duty to make entries in a book showing the
amounts received by him. He makes an entry showing that on a particular occasion he received less than he really
did receive.
The question is, whether this false entry was accidental or intentional.
The facts that other entries made by A in the same book are false, and that the false entry is in each case in
favour of A, are relevant.
(c) A is accused of fraudulently delivering to B a counterfeit rupee.
The question is, whether the delivery of the rupee was accidental.
The facts that, soon before or soon after the delivery to B, A delivered counterfeit rupees to C, D and E are
relevant, as showing that the delivery to B was not accidental
