1[138A. Presumption of culpable mental state.--(1) In any prosecution for an offence under this
Act which requires a culpable mental state on the part of the accused, the court shall presume the
existence of such mental state but it shall be a defence for the accused to prove the fact that he had no
such mental state with respect to the act charged as an offence in that prosecution.
Explanation.--In this section, culpable mental state includes intention, motive, knowledge of a fact and belief in, or reason to believe, a fact.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a fact is said to be proved only when the court believes it to exist beyond reasonable doubt and not merely when its existence is established by a preponderance of probability.]
Explanation.--In this section, culpable mental state includes intention, motive, knowledge of a fact and belief in, or reason to believe, a fact.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a fact is said to be proved only when the court believes it to exist beyond reasonable doubt and not merely when its existence is established by a preponderance of probability.]
1. Ins. by s. 9, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-9-1973).