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118 2020-2021 SMUGGLING IN INDIA REPORT
Preparation of the Manual
Based on a proposal mooted by the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN) for drafting a Digital Investigation Manual for CBIC officers, the Central Board of Indirect taxes and Customs (CBIC) constituted a Committee headed by the Principal Director General, DRI to draft the proposed Manual. The Drafting Committee included representatives from DRI, DGGI, DG Systems and NACIN.
A representative from the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University (GFSU) was also made part of the Drafting Committee, based on a MoU between DRI and GFSU (now National Forensic Sciences University or NFSU).
The Drafting Committee did extensiveresearchontherelevant topics and gathered necessary information for drafting the Manual. The Committee went through the digital forensics manuals used by a few other investigation agencies, and also the international best practices for handling digital evidence. Informal consultations were also held with domain experts. The expertsincludedDGCERT-Inand former National Cyber Security Coordinator.
Finally, after much deliberation, review, research and vetting, the CBIC Digital Investigation Manual was released in July 2020 by the Chairman, CBIC, for use by all Investigation wings of CBIC.
Topics addressed by the Manual
While preparing the Digital Investigation Manual, the focus was on laying out guidelines to be followed during investigations, specifically “Standard Operating Procedures” (SoPs) to be followed during search/seizure proceedings. Post-extraction analysis of data also was given importance.
Additionally, a chapter on Digital SafetyPracticeshasbeenaddedatthe beginning of the manual to sensitize all CBIC officers about the need to enlistbasicDigitalSafetyPractices, including Do’s and Don’ts for anyone using any form of Information Technology hardware/software, with a view to ensure that CBIC, its