Prayagraj, Sep 17 The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh director general of police to make audio-video recording of witness statements mandatory for investigating officers in the state, observing that such a step would make criminal investigations more transparent and fair.
Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal passed the order while hearing a bail application in a dowry-related case when the investigating officer (IO) admitted that he had not prepared an audio-video recording while recording the first informant's statement under Section 180 of Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
The court noted that Section 180(3) BNSS, read with Rule 20(1) of the BNSS 2024, permits an investigating officer to record a witness's statement through audio-video electronic communication.
However, the IO tendered an unconditional apology after the court confronted him with the DGP's circular dated July 21, 2025 and another circular dated August 4, 2026, concerning the audio-video recording of statements.
The high court noted that it had come across a number of cases in which investigating officers had not prepared audio-video recordings despite the option provided in the DGP circulars.
According to the court, in several cases, investigating officers do not prepare such recordings "just to save themselves from the allegation that the statements of the witnesses under section 180 BNSS are written by IOs themselves by copying the FIR itself".
The court further noted that the DGP's Circular No. 24/2025 makes audio-video recording of the statement of a rape victim compulsory while recording of other statements under Section 180 BNSS has been left optional.
It observed that this option "has been widely misused by several investigating officers".
Against this backdrop, the court directed the DGP to consider making audio-video recording of all statements recorded under Section 180 BNSS mandatory.
It further directed the DGP to apprise all investigating officers of the guidelines so that "real culprit may be brought to the justice and innocent person may not be subject to harassment due to faulty investigation".
The court passed these directives while hearing a bail application filed by one Chandrakant in a dowry-related case of Agra district.
