The court's concern
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu DGP to issue guidelines to ensure proper collection and recording of digital evidence in serious criminal cases.
The order arose during a bail petition in a murder case. The court noted gaps in the investigation record, including the absence of photographs of injuries and the crime scene and the non-seizure of the alleged weapon mentioned in the prosecution case.
What the judge said
The court observed that the new criminal-law framework requires video recording in serious offences punishable with more than seven years of imprisonment. It said inconsistent compliance can make it harder for courts to assess the reliability of an investigation and directed the DGP to create operational guidance for police.
