Sat Jul 26 11:18:58 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
The Kerala High Court has mandated that the state police implement training and equipment for using digital platforms like e-Sakshya to document crime scenes, searches, seizures, and witness statements. This directive stems from the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which requires audio-visual recording of critical investigative steps. The court emphasized the importance of this digital shift for improving investigation quality, ensuring accountability, and preventing evidence tampering or false allegations. The ruling came during an appeal case where a murder conviction was overturned due to poor crime scene documentation by the police, highlighting the necessity for improved forensic practices.
**News Article:**
**Kerala High Court Orders Police to Embrace Digital Crime Scene Documentation**
**KOCHI, July 26, 2025** – The Kerala High Court has issued a strong directive to the state police, mandating the immediate implementation of training and provision of equipment necessary for officers to utilize digital platforms, such as e-Sakshya, in crime scene documentation. This move aims to modernize investigative practices and ensure greater transparency and accountability within the police force.
The ruling stems from the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which mandates audio-visual recording of searches, seizures, and witness statements in cases punishable by more than seven years. The court, comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar, emphasized that documenting crime scenes digitally improves investigation quality and protects against evidence tampering or false allegations.
“This is a crucial leap from the pencil-and-paper era to a digital evidence ecosystem, a change for the better,” the court stated in its order. The BNSS provisions, they explained, obligate the police to videotape searches and seizures, bringing transparency to the process and deterring the planting or tampering of evidence.
The ruling came while considering an appeal against a 2019 murder conviction in Pathanamthitta. The court overturned the conviction, citing the “irresponsible and careless manner” in which the initial crime scene was documented. The lack of detail in the scene plan and mahazar was a significant factor in the acquittal.
“It remains a matter of serious concern as to why law enforcement agencies in the State continue to show little or no regard to the proper documentation of the crime scene before the trial court,” the bench noted.
The court’s order underscores the urgent need for the Kerala police to embrace digital forensics and modernize their investigative techniques, ensuring both justice for victims and fairness for the accused. The e-Sakshya platform, developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), provides a cloud-based solution for recording and managing crime scene data. The Court hopes this modernization will improve the quality of evidence presented in court.
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