**Summary:**
The Ministry of Home Affairs is implementing several initiatives to enhance the speed, efficiency, and transparency of criminal proceedings through the use of electronic evidence and digital tools. Key applications include eSakshya for secure digital evidence management, eSummon for electronic delivery of summons, and Nyaya Shruti VC for virtual appearances in court. Integration with the MedLeaPR application facilitates electronic exchange of medico-legal reports. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has developed software upgrades for the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network Systems (CCTNS), adding 23 new functionalities aligned with new criminal laws, and has distributed these upgrades to States and Union Territories. The NCRB has also launched the NCRB Sankalan of Criminal Laws mobile app, available on Android and iOS, to serve as a guide to the new criminal laws for stakeholders. The Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, specifically Sections 254, 265, and 266, enables the use of audio-visual electronic means for recording evidence and examining witnesses, while Section 530 permits trials, inquiries, and proceedings to be conducted electronically. This information was provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on August 5, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Home Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for internal security and policy.
eSakshya: An application that enables lawful, scientific, and tamperproof collection, preservation, and electronic submission of digital evidence.
eSummon: An application that allows summons to be delivered through electronic means.
Nyaya Shruti VC: An application that facilitates virtual appearance of accused persons, witnesses, police officials, prosecutors, scientific experts, prisoners etc. through video conferencing.
Medico Legal Examination Post mortem Reporting MedLeaPR: An application for exchanging Medico Legal Reports with Hospitals.
National Crime Records Bureau NCRB: An Indian government agency responsible for collecting and analyzing crime data.
Crime and Criminal Tracking Network Systems CCTNS: A system used for tracking crime and criminals.
Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita BNSS, 2023: A new criminal law in India that provides for use of audiovideo electronic means for recording of evidence and examination of witnesses. Section 530 provides that all trials, inquiries and proceedings under BNSS may be held in electronic mode, by use of electronic communication or use of audiovideo electronic means.
Ministry of Home Affairs
ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE IN CRIMINAL
PROCEEDINGS
Posted On: 05 AUG 2025 3:37PM by PIB Delhi
To significantly improve the speed, efficiency and transparency of the judicial process, applications like e-
Sakshya, e-Summon and Nyaya- Shruti (VC) have been developed. While the e-Sakshya enables lawful,
scientific and tamper-proof collection, preservation and electronic submission of digital evidence thus
ensuring authenticity and reducing delays, e-Summon allow summons to be delivered through electronic
means, making the process faster, time-bound and easily trackable. Nyaya- Shruti (VC) facilitates virtual
appearance of accused persons, witnesses, police officials, prosecutors, scientific experts, prisoners etc.
through video conferencing. Integration with Medico Legal Examination & Post- mortem Reporting
(MedLeaPR) application for exchanging Medico Legal Reports with Hospitals is also provided for.
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has developed software patches to upgrade Crime and Criminal
Tracking Network Systems (CCTNS) application for providing 23 new functionalities as per the provisions
of new criminal laws. These patches have been given to the States/ UTs for deployment.
NCRB has also launched a Mobile App called ‘NCRB Sankalan of Criminal Laws’ as a comprehensive
guide on new criminal laws for the benefit of all stakeholders. This Mobile App is available on Android and
iOS platforms.
Section 254 (Evidence for Protection), section 265 (Evidence for Prosecution) and section 266 (Evidence
for Defence) of Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNNS), 2023 provide for use of audio-video electronic
means for recording of evidence and examination of witnesses. Further, section 530 of BNSS provides that
all trials, inquiries and proceedings under BNSS may be held in electronic mode, by use of electronic
communication or use of audio-video electronic means.
This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar in a
written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
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RK/VV/RR/HS/PS/PR
(Release ID: 2152496)