Forensic and Electronic Evidence 2025: Chain of Custody, DNA, and Admissibility

Share on:

Introduction

With the advent of the digital age, the transformation of the criminal justice system has been so radical that it is almost unrecognizable. It may seem somewhat that the whole journey is from one extreme to another, that is, from the times when investigations were carried out 100% based on witness accounts to completely digital means of proof. Besides sophisticated electronic evidence, DNA profiling, and complex forensic procedures, some of which were sci-fi just a few decades ago, modern courts also use software and hardware that help the human intelligence aspect of these technologies.

In 2025, we are at a point where forensic and electronic evidence are gripping the world. Besides that, this knowledge has become necessary for lawyers, police, and every person who wants to get justice.

Digital Revolution in Indian Courts 

A question arises: Can electronic evidence in India be merely a gadget, or should it be a must-have item in the justice seeker's toolbox? The Information Technology Act, 2000, specifically Section 65B, changed the face of the way digital evidence in Indian courts is presented and admitted. According to this provision, a certificate is to be attached to electronic records that identify the record the way it was created and give details about the device used for creation.

The apex court decision in Arjun Panditrao Khotkar v. Kailash Kushanrao Gorantyal (2020) is one of the most decisive ones. The court, from then on, sets out to define the requirements of Section 65B certificates as mandatory. It has been clearly determined that any electronic evidence that lacks a proper 65B certification will not be admissible, and hence, the trial courts are informed of the very essence of this stage of the litigation process. At this stage of the proceedings, the decision stresses the point that the certificate is fundamental to the authenticity and integrity of electronic evidence, and the nature of it is not merely procedural.

The Chain of Custody Preserving Evidence Integrity

The chain of custody in India is a concept that goes a long way beyond just maintaining physical evidence. It is a system of documentation in detail; the whole process must be recorded from the time the evidence is collected incidentally in the court of law, and so on. Such documentation becomes very important in the case of forensic evidence, as they are very susceptible to contamination or alteration.

The problem gets even more complicated when it comes to electronic evidence. Digital data can be changed, erased, or corrupted without any signs showing it. So, the procedure of creating an unalterable chain of custody for electronic evidence should be very detailed in the documentation of every human who had access to the data, every piece of equipment that was used, and the processes of each transfer or copy. 

DNA Evidence

One of the most outstanding achievements of the last decade is the great rise of DNA evidence as a key tool for law enforcement. This evidential type, in addition to solving an enormous number of cases, has become the leading cause of the acquittals of patients who were wrongly assumed guilty. However, the question of DNA evidence admissibility and dependability is still very sensitive and is tied to the observance of proper collection, handling, and analysis routines.

Delhi High Court's Verdict in Santosh Kumar Singh v. State through CBI (2010) gives due prominence to a well-established methodical rule to be strictly adhered to while carrying out DNA evidence collection. The Court observed that DNA evidence could be of no use in case there was contamination at collection or analysis. It also clarified that the importance of the chain of custody for biological samples must be even more rigorous than for other types of evidence.

The National Forensic Science University (NFSU) and the increased number of forensic facilities in various states are two important signs of India's commitment to the quality and accessibility of DNA analysis. 

Digital Forensics Faces New Problems

It is seen that as technology gets more advanced, the legal systems are facing bigger problems. The new technologies of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and encrypted communications have become new areas to search for electronic evidence. The creation of deepfakes and the use of advanced methods of manipulation have led to the fact that it is quite difficult to find the real digital evidence from the fake ones.

The changes made to the blockchain and the signatures in the online world are there to help the court and the police to be sure that the data provided as evidence is true. Some states in India that are very modern have started to use blockchain technology in the creation of evidence storage systems. These systems keep a record of the evidence that cannot be changed, which means they may be a real breakthrough in the digital age when it comes to ensuring the chain of custody.

Future of Forensic Evidence

As we move further into 2025 and later on, the use of forensic and electronic evidence in Indian courts will become more and more entrenched. One day, technologies such as quantum computing may be able to break today's encryption methods, and forensic science might be able to extract even less of the microscopic traces of the evidence. The crucial point in going through this complicated terrain is to keep the balance between getting the benefit from technological innovations and, at the same time, safeguarding the rights of the accused persons. The courts should always check whether the evidence they have obtained passes the basic standards of being relevant, authentic, and reliable.

The story of forensic and electronic evidence in India is a mirror of our wider changes as a digitally linked community. We are not only redefining our legal frameworks and forensic capabilities but also getting nearer to a justice system that can take on the challenges of our era while being faithful to the principles of fairness and truth.

Conclusion 

Forensics and electronic evidence integration have completely revolutionized the court system in India in 2025. Apart from the legal provisions such as Section 65B of the IT Act and the Supreme Court's landmark judgments, the Indian judiciary has also constructed a series of seemingly unstoppable protections for digital evidence, while at the same time embracing the use of technology.

The future of forensic science in India is a question that is decided by technology as well as by our pledge to justice, the qualities we represent, and our truthfulness. We need to ensure that technology is there to serve justice by accepting digital transformation, hence making our legal system more accessible, efficient, and reliable for all citizens, and at the same time keeping the individual rights and due process.