Deconstructing Section 61 of the BSA,2023: The Procedural Vulnerabilities of Hashing, Mirroring, and Chain-of-Custody in Cryptographic & Cyber-Syndicate Investigations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29070/qt8g3909Keywords:
Section 61, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023, Digital Evidence, Electronic Records, Hashing, Mirroring, Chain of Custody, Cryptographic Evidence, Cyber-Syndicate Investigation, Forensic IntegrityAbstract
This paper critically deconstructs Section 61 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 in the context of cryptographic and cyber-syndicate investigations. While the provision recognizes electronic and digital records as admissible evidence, its practical application depends upon the integrity of hashing, mirroring, metadata preservation, forensic imaging, and chain-of-custody protocols. The study examines how procedural lapses, technological manipulation, inadequate certification, and weak investigative documentation may compromise authenticity, reliability, and evidentiary value. It argues that digital admissibility must be supported by robust forensic standards, judicial scrutiny, and investigator accountability to ensure fair trial, due process, and cyber-evidence integrity within modern Indian criminal courts.
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