Electronic evidence and defence access to call records can be balanced by masking identifying numbers while preserving relevance.

Electronic records may be relied on in criminal trials only if the requirements of Sections 65A and 65B of the Indian Evidence Act, including the certificate under Section 65B(4), are satisfied. In defence, an accused may seek relevant admissible material to challenge the prosecution version, including mobile call details of arresting officers where those records bear on the place and time of arrest. Where disclosure may expose sensitive investigative material, the material can be produced in a limited form by masking caller and called numbers while preserving the relevant call details. The call details were to be summoned with identifying number information blacked out.

---

---

Issues: Whether the appellant was entitled to summon mobile call details of the arresting officers for the relevant period, and whether the disclosure could be limited by blacking out caller numbers to prevent prejudice to the prosecution.

Analysis: Electronic records are admissible in criminal trials subject to the requirements of Sections 65A and 65B of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, including the certificate contemplated by Section 65B(4). The appellant was entitled to seek relevant and admissible material in defence to test the prosecution version regarding the place and time of arrest. At the same time, the concern that full disclosure might reveal sensitive investigative material could be addressed by limiting the summons to call details necessary for locating the officers and by masking caller and called numbers.

Conclusion: The appellant was entitled to have the call details summoned with identifying call-number information blacked out.

---