FROM FIR TO FORENSIC ANALYSIS IN THE DIGITAL AGE: LEGAL POWERS, INVESTIGATIVE MODELS, AND JUDICIAL OVERSIGHT OF CYBERCRIME POLICING IN INDIA

Abstract

This paper explores the comprehensive cybercrime investigation forensic model employed by Indian police, from FIR registration to forensic analysis of digital evidence. It examines the collection, preservation, and analysis of digital evidence in line with key legislative frameworks such as the IPC, BNS 2023, the Cr.PC, the BNSS 2023,The IEA with  the BSA 2023 and the IT Act.  This study delineates the empowered role of cybercrime police in executing digital searches, seizures, and offender prosecution under defined legal mandates. Judicial oversight ensures territorial jurisdiction and safeguards the integrity of digital evidence. The paper underscores the integrated nexus between statutory authority, forensic protocols, and judicial scrutiny—forming a resilient legal architecture for cybercrime adjudication. The investigative framework now spans FIR initiation, digital forensics, and court-monitored due process, ensuring lawful, effective, and rights-oriented resolution of digital offenses in India’s evolving cyber jurisprudence.