ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN CRIMINAL EVIDENCE: CAN INDIAN COURTS TRUST ALGORITHMIC PROOF?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) once regarded as merely another technological innovation, has now evolved into a powerful force influencing nearly every aspect of modern life. Today, AI is employed for routine tasks such as drafting emails, composing messages and rephrasing text, as well as for complex, large-scale operations like analysing millions of judicial decisions to identify patterns, and monitoring global financial markets in real time. Tasks that previously required days or even months can now be completed within seconds. This growing efficiency has resulted in an increasing reliance on AI systems, bringing with it both significant advantages and serious concerns. AI demonstrates exceptional capability in areas such as data processing, pattern recognition and decision-support across vast and complex systems. However, it lacks human judgement, consciousness, and accountability, qualities that are indispensable in the context of criminal investigation and adjudication. AI cannot experience emotions, independently assess the truthfulness of human statements, or perform tasks that inherently require human presence and discretion. As AI increasingly influences criminal investigations, a critical questions arises whether and to what extent algorithmic proof can satisfy the three core pillars of Indian criminal trials: reliability, fairness and justice.