Adv. (Dr.) Prashant Mali is a Certified Computer Forensics Professional (CCFP, NIELIT — Government of India) and cyber-forensics expert competent to examine electronic evidence and sign Part B of the certificate under Section 63(4) of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA), following the Supreme Court's ruling in Pune Bar Association v. Union of India (2026).
Cyber Forensics Expert - Part B, Section 63(4) BSA Certificate
Since 1 July 2024, every piece of secondary electronic evidence tendered in an Indian court must be accompanied by a two-part certificate under Section 63(4) of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA) - Part A signed by the party/custodian, and Part B signed by an expert. The single most litigated question since has been: who is qualified to sign Part B? In 2026 the Supreme Court answered it - and the answer created a clear, court-recognised role for genuinely qualified cyber-forensics experts. This page explains that role and the qualifications behind it. It is information, not legal advice.
The Pune Bar Association judgment - who can sign Part B
In Pune Bar Association v. Union of India & Ors., Writ Petition (Civil) No. 599 of 2026 (decided 22-05-2026), a three-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court (Surya Kant, CJI, Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, JJ.) upheld the Section 63(4) certificate and the requirement to disclose the hash value - describing it as an "electronic fingerprint" - and clarified the meaning of "expert." Rejecting the narrow view that Part B could be signed only by an Examiner of Electronic Evidence notified under Section 79A of the IT Act, the Court read Section 39 of the BSA as a whole and held:
"…if the Court is satisfied, on the basis of unimpeachable material, that any other person has special skill and expertise in computer science and cyber forensics, opinion of such person may be held relevant as an expert with regard to electronic/digital record and such person may sign Part B of the Schedule as an expert." — Pune Bar Association v. Union of India (2026), para 7
In short: a suitably qualified cyber-forensics expert can sign Part B, provided the court is satisfied - on unimpeachable material - of genuine special skill and expertise in computer science and cyber forensics. The burden is on demonstrating that expertise. Read the full analysis on the Electronic Evidence blog
Qualified to sign Part B - the credentials that satisfy the test
The Pune Bar Association standard asks for demonstrable, unimpeachable expertise in computer science and cyber forensics. Adv. (Dr.) Prashant Mali brings exactly that combination of technical qualification, government-recognised forensic standing, published research and institutional teaching:
Technical & forensic qualifications
CCFP - Certified Computer Forensics Professional, certified by NIELIT (National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology), Government of India. Click for seeing CERTIFICATE
M.Sc. (Computer Science), Ph.D. in Cyber Law, LLB, LLM, and PG-Certificate in Cyber Defence, Cranfield University (UK).
25+ years in IT, cyber security, cyber forensics and cyber law.
Government-recognised forensic standing
Cyber Law Consulting (his law firm) was selected as an agency for Digital forensics under a Government Resolution (GR) of the Home Department of Maharashtra Government a formal, government-backed marker of forensic competence. The official Government Resolution GR of 2016 is available on the link to read or download
Published research on electronic evidence
Author of two research papers on Electronic Evidence, in addition to 8 books on cyber law and privacy demonstrating not only practice but scholarship in the very field the certificate concerns.See research papers of Prashant Mali
Expert faculty - training the police and the judiciary on electronic evidence
Few experts in India can say they train both the investigators who gather electronic evidence and the judges who weigh it. Adv. (Dr.) Prashant Mali is an expert faculty member on Electronic Evidence at:
Police training academies: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA, Hyderabad), Maharashtra Police Academy (MPA, Nashik), Rajasthan Police Academy (RPA), and the Central Academy for Police Training (CAPT, Bhopal).
Judicial academies (training judges): National Judicial Academy (NJA, Bhopal), Delhi Judicial Academy (DJA), Maharashtra Judicial Academy (MJA), Madhya Pradesh State Judicial Academy (MPJA), Jharkhand Judicial Academy, and Tripura Judicial Academy.
This dual role - teaching the standards of electronic evidence to police officers and to the judiciary alike - is precisely the "unimpeachable material" of special skill that the Supreme Court contemplated.
Cyber-forensics services
Part B expert certification under Section 63(4) BSA for secondary electronic evidence.
Examination and authentication of electronic evidence - emails, WhatsApp and messaging data, CCTV/video, mobile and computer data, logs, and cloud records.
Hash-value computation and verification (SHA-256 and others) and integrity analysis.
Chain-of-custody review and forensic soundness assessment.
Expert opinion and expert-witness testimony on electronic/digital evidence and cross examination.
Deepfake and synthetic-media analysis and authenticity assessment.
Training and capacity-building for police, prosecutors, judiciary and corporates on electronic evidence and cyber forensics.
Frequently asked questions
After the Pune Bar Association judgment, who can sign Part B of the Section 63(4) BSA certificate?
Following the Supreme Court's 2026 ruling, Part B can be signed either by an Examiner of Electronic Evidence notified under Section 79A of the IT Act, or by any other person whom the court is satisfied has special skill and expertise in computer science and cyber forensics. A qualified private cyber-forensics expert therefore qualifies, subject to the court's satisfaction.
Do I necessarily need a Section 79A-notified government examiner?
No. A Section 79A Examiner remains the gold standard, but Pune Bar Association confirms it is not the only option. Where a notified examiner is unavailable or delayed, a qualified independent expert can sign Part B - which is important given how few laboratories are notified nationwide.
What makes a cyber-forensics expert "qualified" enough for a court to accept Part B?
The court looks for demonstrable, unimpeachable expertise — for example, formal forensic certification (such as CCFP/NIELIT), relevant academic qualifications in computer science, government-recognised forensic standing, published research, and a record of teaching or practice in electronic evidence. Documenting these credentials with the certificate strengthens its acceptance.
Can you examine my WhatsApp chats, emails, CCTV footage or device data and certify them?
Yes. Electronic evidence can be forensically examined, hashed, and — where appropriate — accompanied by a Part B expert certificate and expert opinion, so that it stands up to scrutiny under Section 63 BSA. Preserving the original and maintaining chain of custody from the outset is essential.
Can you act as an expert witness in court on electronic evidence?
Yes. This includes providing a written expert opinion, signing Part B where qualified, and appearing to depose on the authenticity, integrity and interpretation of electronic/digital records.
Is a bare screenshot enough, or does it need forensic certification?
A bare screenshot, without metadata, hash value and certification, is increasingly rejected. Proper forensic capture and a Section 63 certificate (Parts A and B) are what give electronic evidence its weight. Read the Electronic Evidence blog
Learn more
Electronic Evidence – case law under IEA & BSA (blog) → Research papers of Prashant Mali → Cyber Crime Lawyer in Mumbai (FAQ hub)
Engage a cyber-forensics expert
For examination of electronic evidence, a Part B expert certificate under Section 63(4) BSA, expert opinion or expert testimony, contact Adv. (Dr.) Prashant Mali → available across India and world online and in person at the Andheri and Bandra (Mumbai) offices.
Disclaimer: This page is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice or solicitation, nor does it create a lawyer–client relationship. The competence and acceptance of any expert, and of any certificate under Section 63(4) BSA, are ultimately for the court to determine on the facts of each case; no outcome is promised or implied. Please consult a qualified professional about your specific situation. Last updated: July 2026.