Accused Present Abroad Can Respond Remotely Under BNSS: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court permitted an accused residing abroad, facing trial in an excise case before the Kollam Sub-Court, to furnish responses under Section 351 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita either through videoconferencing or by submitting a duly authenticated written statement.

The trial court had declined to grant an exemption from personal appearance at the stage of questioning. The High Court observed that Section 351(5) BNSS, read with the Electronic Video Linkage Rules for Courts (Kerala), 2021, enabled such remote participation, consistent with judicial precedent endorsing technological facilitation in criminal procedure.

[Rameshan v State of Kerala]