Description
In an era where every digital footprint can decide a verdict, Section 63 of the BSA, 2023 has redrawn the contours of admissibility. This lifecycle-based commentary — co-authored by IPS officer Kannan Perumal and veteran legal practitioner Ranjit Shankar Prasad — guides police, prosecutors, defence counsel, and judges through seizure, chain of custody, BYOD dilemmas, expert testimony, and constitutional safeguards under Puttaswamy and Article 20(3). Anchored in Anvar P.V. and Arjun Panditrao Khotkar, it converts the BSA’s promise into practical discipline — an indispensable companion for the digital courtroom: rigorous, role-specific, and reform-ready.
The age of digital evidence is here — and with it, a quiet revolution in the law of proof.
Section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 reshapes the admissibility of electronic records, carrying forward the discipline established in Anvar P.V. v. P.K. Basheer (2014) and Arjun Panditrao Khotkar v. Kailash Kushanrao Gorantyal (2020). Yet statutory reform alone cannot guarantee justice. Whether digital evidence strengthens or destabilizes a case depends on how it is handled — at every stage of its life.
This work offers a lifecycle-based, practitioner-centric guide to electronic evidence under the new evidentiary regime. From seizure to tendering, it addresses the constitutional and procedural questions confronting the modern courtroom: BYOD dilemmas and Article 20(3); the Puttaswamy privacy framework; forensic imaging, hashing, and chain-of-custody discipline; the evolving scope of “computer output” across ephemeral messaging, IoT streams, and cloud logs; and the explanatory role of Section 63(4) certificates and Section 45 expert testimony.
Written for police officers, prosecutors, defence counsel, and judges, the book translates technological complexity into legally intelligible doctrine — rigorous, role-specific, and rooted in constitutional values.
Kannan Perumal, an officer of the Indian Police Service and alumnus of the International Anti-Corruption Academy, Vienna, brings two decades of investigative and anti-corruption experience. Ranjit Shankar Prasad, with thirty-five years of legal practice and a permanent faculty role at the Bihar Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development, contributes deep doctrinal expertise.
Together they deliver an indispensable companion for the digital courtroom — where bytes meet the bench, and the rule of law must remain constant.
Meha Verma –
The authors have explained complex legal concepts in a simple and systematic manner, making the book useful for both academic and practical purposes.The book serves as a valuable reference for law students, advocates, prosecutors, judicial aspirants, and legal practitioners.
Tripti Sharan –
I found Navigating the Digital Evidentiary Labyrinth to be a very relevant and practical read, especially at a time when courts are increasingly dealing with electronic records and digital forms of evidence. What I appreciated most was that the book explains complex issues in a simple and understandable manner without losing its legal substance. The references to recent legal developments and judicial decisions make the discussion current and useful. The author has also touched upon modern concerns such as cyber forensics, authenticity of digital records, and technological advancements in a balanced way. Overall, it is a well-written and informative book that would be beneficial for advocates, judges, researchers, and students alike.
Pankaj Kumar Verma –
“Navigating the Digital Evidentiary labyrinth ” This Book is an impressive and insightful work on digital evidence and contemporary legal issues. The book presents complex concepts in a simple, practical, and engaging manner, making it highly useful for Prosecutors, Defence Counsel, Judges, and students alike. It reflects the author’s deep understanding and dedicated effort towards an important subject. A valuable contribution to the field of law.”
Bhupendra narayan singh,Dist.Prosecution officer (Retd)Cum Spl.PP (EOU) –
“Navigating the Digital Evidentiary Labyrinth” is a highly informative and practical book that brilliantly explains the complexities of digital evidence in today’s technology-driven legal system. The author has successfully combined legal principles with modern forensic and cyber-evidence concepts in a simple, lucid, and professional manner. The book is extremely useful for judges, prosecutors, advocates, investigators, and law students dealing with electronic evidence and cyber-related offences. A timely and valuable contribution to contemporary criminal jurisprudence.