The Delhi Forensic Science Laboratory (DFSL) and Delhi Police have integrated blockchain technology into their e-forensic application, becoming the first institution of its kind in India to do so. Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena announced this development, revealing that the application will create an immutable and transparent record of the chain of custody for evidence. Already, over 1,500 personnel have been trained to use this technology, with more than 3,000 forensic samples undergoing processing and analysis using it.
Blockchain operates by creating a chain of blocks, each containing encrypted data, such as forensic records, case details, images, or logs. This decentralized storage across multiple computers ensures security and transparency, making tampering difficult. The e-forensic app’s blockchain integration is now part of the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS), enabling seamless data sharing among police, forensics, prosecution, court, and prison.
The blockchain’s implementation transforms various steps of the criminal justice process into blocks, with each step’s unique code linking and recording the history of data. This technology enhances transparency, accountability, trust, and security within the criminal-judicial system, automating the forensic workflow while maintaining confidentiality and ensuring efficient case resolution. The blockchain’s encrypted and controlled information sharing aids secure data exchange among different law enforcement agencies and forensic labs, providing an auditable record of data access.
