CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION UNDER BSA 2023: A NEW ERA OF SCIENTIFIC CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN INDIA

The criminal justice system of any nation rests upon the reliability of evidence gathered at crime scenes. In India, the transformation from the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 to the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023 represents far more than a legislative housekeeping exercise. It signals a philosophical reorientation: away from confession-centric policing rooted in colonial tradition, and toward a forensic-first, science-backed evidentiary culture. This paper critically examines how the BSA reshapes crime scene investigation in India its provisions on electronic records, forensic expert testimony, chain of custody, and authentication of digital evidence against the backdrop of a country that simultaneously boasts a growing forensic science infrastructure and struggles with severe capacity deficits at the ground level. Drawing on the provisions of the BSA alongside comparative insights from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the European Union, this paper argues that while the BSA is a structurally sound and constitutionally aligned law, its transformative promise will only be realised through sustained investment in forensic laboratories, standardised protocols, and judicial training. The paper concludes with concrete, actionable recommendations for bridging the gap between the aspirations written into law and the realities encountered at crime scenes across India.