Section 120B IPC prescribes the punishment for criminal conspiracy. Where the conspiracy is to commit an offence punishable with death, life imprisonment or rigorous imprisonment for two years or upwards, the punishment is:

1. Section 120B(1) IPC: 'Whoever is a party to a criminal conspiracy to commit an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life or rigorous imprisonment for a term of two years or upwards, shall, where no express provision is made in this Code for the punishment of such a conspiracy, be punished in the same manner as if he had abetted such offence.' 2. Section 109 IPC then provides that abetment of an offence is punished the same as the offence itself if the offence is committed. 3. Section 120B(2) prescribes lighter punishment (≤6 months, fine or both) for conspiracies for lesser offences. 4. Conspiracy is a continuing offence; persons joining later are still liable. 5. Hence option A is correct. _Source: Indian Penal Code 1860 / Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 / Indian Evidence Act 1872 (Bare Acts, indiacode.nic.in) — IPC, Section 120B_