The Delhi High Court has emphasized the importance of adopting technological tools in criminal investigations to ensure fairness and transparency. The observation came while Justice Ravinder Dudeja was deciding a bail application in a narcotics case involving the seizure of one kilogram of heroin.
Dismissing the bail plea of accused Ravi Prakash, the court underscored that while the absence of videographic evidence should not automatically discredit the police’s version, investigating agencies must strive to utilize available technology during probe operations.
“This court observed that the use of technology certainly enhances the efficacy and transparency of the police investigation and assures fairness, and therefore, ideally, every effort should be made by the investigating agency to use technological means in aid of investigation,” Justice Dudeja noted in his July 24 order.
The accused, arrested on April 19, 2023, argued that the lack of video or photographic evidence of the alleged seizure undermined the credibility of the prosecution’s case. However, the court found the explanation by the prosecution—that no CCTV footage existed from the location—to be plausible. It further held that tools for videography may not have been available at the time of arrest and such absence cannot by itself raise suspicion on the seizure claim.
Justice Dudeja also rejected the argument for bail on grounds of prolonged detention, observing that the accused had been in custody since April 2023, which does not constitute an excessively long period to justify release before trial conclusion.
