Undercover Police Operations In India: A Critical Legal Analysis
- IJLLR Journal
- Jun 10
- 1 min read
Prof (Dr) Priya Sepaha, Dean, School of Law & Public Policy, Avantika University, Ujjain, M.P., India
ABSTRACT
Undercover police operations are common in many countries, including India. They work undercover to gather intelligence, investigate criminal activities, and infiltrate criminal organisations to enforce the law effectively.
Undercover operations are not just about the act of going undercover, but they require meticulous planning, coordination, and careful consideration of legal and ethical boundaries. The officers involved must adhere to strict guidelines to ensure the legality and integrity of their operations, for instance, authorisation, procedural safeguards, limitations on entrapment, privacy considerations, use of evidence, and oversight and accountability. Additionally, it requires appropriate training, clear guidelines, effective management, and resilient support mechanisms for undercover officers. But above all, it requires formidable leadership, which is the backbone of successful operations.
This paper analyses the contribution of UPOs to the Indian context. The research methodology is doctrinal, focused on critical parameters like working, legality, ethics, and challenges faced by undercover police personnel. It uses various case laws, reports, and interviews of undercover police officers.
The paper concludes that UPO can be a valuable tool in combating crime. However, evaluating their success requires a comprehensive analysis of multiple factors and outcomes specific to each operation. Nevertheless, regular review, oversight, and adherence to legal safeguards are not just necessary, but they are the cornerstone of preventing abuses and preserving the integrity of UPO in India.
Keywords: undercover operation, police, criminal justice, crime, law
