law: 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.