Adarsh takes you through how the Indian Enforcement Directorate is using advanced technology to modernise Indian law enforcement…
The Indian justice system has long struggled with delays. Long paper trails, overworked agencies and disorganised data are the main culprits for slow investigations and case resolutions. But, at long last, the Indian Enforcement Directorate is planning to harness advanced technology to resolve cases faster.
At the 33rd quarterly conference of the Enforcement Directorate held in Gujarat recently, director Rahul Navin proposed new methods to tackle cases involving money laundering, human trafficking and drug trafficking.
The director cited examples in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh where the Hyderabad Zonal Office used technology to crack cases and achieve breakthroughs, notably the Shaikh Nowhera case and the Agri Gold case.
Shifting from Manual to Digital Case Management
One of the first changes that has been made is shifting from paper files to digital case management systems. By using these dashboards, agencies can view and track cases end-to-end. They can assign tasks, monitor progress and reduce duplication of efforts.
Instead of documents scattered across departments that are working in silos, these centralised dashboards offer real-time visibility into the progress that has been achieved. For large, multi-year cases, this one shift can significantly reduce administrative delays.
Data Analytics and Pattern Detection in Investigations
With the use of technology, agencies can analyse large volumes of data more efficiently. By employing advanced analytical tools, it is easier to identify links between entities and also flag suspicious patterns.
What earlier required months of manual data checking can now be achieved in a matter of days or even hours. Apart from speeding up the process, this has resulted in more accuracy and allows officers to focus on more substantial tasks rather than clerical functions.
Digital Platforms aiding Inter Agency Coordination
Complex and high-profile cases usually involve multiple agencies. Every agency has their own systems, mandates and timelines. By using digital platforms, these agencies can now coordinate with each other more efficiently and share information more easily.
By exchanging data securely, delays caused by formal correspondence and repeated requests can be avoided completely. By using the right dashboards, agencies can work parallelly instead of sequentially and this exponentially reduces case resolution time.
Transparency, Accountability and Questions of Privacy
There is no disputing the fact that technology increases efficiency. But there are caveats to employing technology. Thanks to digital systems, there is an audit trail which increases accountability and reduces delays. But at the same time, increased data collection and surveillance capabilities does include the questions around privacy and misuse.
To avoid that, stringent guardrails are key. Having a clear legal framework with access controls and oversight mechanisms would be key in technological adoption.
The Last Word
Technology cannot fix the systemic challenges that exist in the Indian judiciary system. But it can help in reducing friction, reducing errors and freeing up time for more investigative works.
The real test would be in ensuring that these technologies will strengthen the institutions and not just speed them up. If implemented correctly, technology can play a crucial part in delivering faster, fairer justice across India!
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