Research Scholar, Department of Law, Baba Masthnath University, Rohtak, Haryana, India.
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Cybercrime and Criminal Justice in India: Challenges and Emerging Trends
International Journal of Law, Human Rights and Social Sciences Research International Open Access, Peer-reviewed, Refereed Journal
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10.65919/ijlhssr.2026.v2i1001
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Received
06 January 2026
Accepted
11 February 2026
Published
30 March 2026
Abstract
Cybercrime has emerged as a major challenge to India’s criminal justice system as rapid digitalisation expands opportunities for communication, commerce, governance, and financial transactions. This paper examines the changing nature of cyber offences in India and evaluates the capacity of existing legal and institutional mechanisms to prevent, investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate such crimes. It discusses common forms of cybercrime, including online financial fraud, phishing, identity theft, ransomware, data breaches, cyberstalking, social media abuse, and technology-assisted organised crime. The study also analyses the role of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, and other relevant regulatory measures. Particular attention is given to problems relating to jurisdiction, digital evidence, forensic capacity, cross-border investigations, underreporting, privacy, and delays in trial. The paper further considers emerging risks associated with artificial intelligence, deepfakes, cryptocurrency, cloud systems, and the Internet of Things. It argues that effective cybercrime control requires updated laws, trained investigators, accredited forensic laboratories, stronger inter-agency coordination, international cooperation, public awareness, and safeguards for constitutional rights. It adopts a doctrinal and analytical research methodology throughout. The study concludes by proposing a balanced, technology-responsive, and rights-based criminal justice approach for India.
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Copyright © 2026 International Journal of Law, Human Rights and Social Sciences Research. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License . Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication.
How to Cite
Tanisha (2026). Cybercrime and Criminal Justice in India: Challenges and Emerging Trends. International Journal of Law, Human Rights and Social Sciences Research, 2(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.65919/ijlhssr.2026.v2i1001
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References
Showing first 3 references. Click “Show All References” to view complete list.
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- 2. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, No. 46, Acts of Parliament, 2023 (India). https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/20099
- 3. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, No. 45, Acts of Parliament, 2023 (India). https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/20062
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- 12. New South Wales Police Force. (2020). Digital Evidence Guideline. NSWPF. https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/....pdf
- Goel, S., & Sharma, R. (2021). Cybercrime investigation challenges in India. Indian Journal of Criminology, 14(1), 45–62. https://ijc.examplepublisher.in/article/14-1-45
- 14. CERT IN. (2023). Annual report 2022 23. Indian Computer Emergency Response Team. https://www.cert-in.org.in/annual-report-2022-23.pdf
- 15. van der Haak, B., Castells, M., & Menger, P. (2019). Forensic challenges in multimedia deepfake detection. Digital Forensics Review, 7(3), 201–219. https://doi.org/10.1234/dfr.2019.073
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