Supreme Court: Video Evidence Admissible Without Playing It Before Witness or Transcription

The Supreme Court held that video recordings certified under Section 65B of the Evidence Act are admissible without needing to play the video before each witness or transcribe its contents.

A bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Ujjal Bhuyan overturned a Bombay High Court order, which ordered a re-trial “merely” because the raid video was not played during every witness testimony and not converted to a transcript.

The Court ruled that once the electronic record and certificate are valid, the video stands like any document, and playing it before witnesses is not mandatory; however, explanatory statements may be required in some cases, depending on the facts.

[Kailas S/O Bajirao Pawar v State Of Maharashtra]