Is it permissible to falsely claim to have done something I did not do in order to protect another person from punishment?

Lying is forbidden, except to avert an undeniable harm unjustly, or to secure a legitimate benefit. In such cases, one should resort to allusive speech (tawriyah) and indirect hints (ta'rid). In this particular situation, lying is not permissible. Instead, silence suffices to conceal the perpetrator, acting upon the hadith: "Whoever conceals a Muslim, Allah will conceal him."