Crime Scene Investigation And Evidence Collection: A Legal Perspective Under The New Criminal Laws
- IJLLR Journal
- Jul 26
- 2 min read
Dr. Anil Kumar Dixit, Professor, Career College of Law, Bhopal
Dr. Namrata Tiwari, Assistant Professor, Career College of Law, Bhopal
Ms. Aashi Dixit, B.B.A. LL.B., LL.M, NET, Mansarovar University, Bhopal
ABSTRACT
Making sure a fair trial ensues, Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) is the cornerstone of any criminal case, as it is responsible for the search, preservation, and examination of physical and forensic evidence that is crucial in determining the truth in the court of law. The act of the crime scene management, evidence collection, and forensic examination has dramatically changed with the realization of India's new criminal laws, which are replacing the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act. The recent amendments have laid out a range of legal criteria to be in line with the scientific investigation methods, forensic documentation, and the integration of digital evidence into the whole criminal procedure. This section has given a comprehensive overview of the increasing legal and procedural framework that regulates CSI and the collection of evidence in India. The analysis started by looking into the primary doctrines of forensic investigation, mainly crime scene protection, a systematic approach to evidence documentation, and respect for global quality standards. It went on to elucidate the latest forensic techniques, breakthroughs in technology, and evidence standards set out in the updated criminal statutes. The chapter highlights the legal aspects of DNA profiling, cyber forensics, artificial intelligence in crime scene reconstruction, and biometric evidence that have got statutory recognition and judicial endorsement. Vital points from this part of the book are the determination of admissibility and the relevance of forensic findings to the court, especially in view of past court decisions and the more dominant part of forensic reports in criminal trials. All the details of the chain of custody and its legal implications are thoroughly described, pinpointing the results of corrupt and evidence-tampering acts under the new legal procedures. In addition, it is a clear factor that the rights of the accused, the immunities against illegal evidence collection, and the defense lawyers’ role in contesting forensic reports are being reported to balance the justice and due process issues. Apart from that, the chapter inquires into the issues of the present day in relation to crime scene investigation like the gap in forensic infrastructure, backlogs in forensic analysis, and the trustworthiness of expert predictable testimonies.
Keywords: Crime Scene Investigation, Evidence Collection, Forensic Science, Chain of Custody, Judicial Admissibility.
