The first DGGI-NFSU digital forensic laboratory was inaugurated at the campus of National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar on 08/01/2024 by Shri Rajiv Talwar, Member (Compliance Management), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)  and Dr. J M Vyas, Vice Chancellor, NFSU in presence of Shri Anil Kumar Gupta, Pr. Director General, DGGI, Shri Sunil Kumar Singh, DG SNU (West), DGGI and Dr. S O Junare, Director, NFSU.

This Lab is a unique initiative  between a premier academic institution on forensic sciences i.e. National Forensic Sciences University, an Institution of National Importance under Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI, and Directorate General of GST Intelligence, an apex intelligence and investigation agency under CBIC, Department of Revenue, GoI for developing state of art digital forensic labs, equipped with tools/ solutions of international standards at five places, namely Gandhinagar, New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai at an estimated cost of Rs.16 crore, aimed at strengthening the capabilities of DGGI in cyber and digital forensics. A MoU was signed on 7th February 2023 between NFSU and DGGI for this project. The first of 5 Labs has been set up in less than one year from the date of sanction of this project. Another 2 Labs at Delhi & Chennai will be started before March, 2024 and the remaining two Labs at Mumbai & Kolkata will also be made operational by June, 2024.

These forensic labs offer wide application and enhanced facilities through use of state of art equipment for mobile forensics, computer forensic capabilities, password cracking capability, etc. among other aspects of technology.

The primary objective is to bolster the agency's capacity for completing investigations expeditiously, launching effective prosecutions and securing convictions against those involved in serious tax offences.

As part of comprehensive capacity-building programme, a two-day hands-on training session on various aspects of handling digital exhibits, seizing digital devices, and retrieving data during search and seizures was conducted in collaboration with NFSU for 1^st batch of DGGI officials in December, 2023. Further such training programmes are being organised shortly. DGGI also plans to accredit and notify its NFSU Gandhinagar facility in due course after the launch as an ‘examiner of electronic evidence’ under section 79A of Information Technology Act, 2000 through the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Dr. J. M. Vyas, Vice Chancellor, NFSU in his address at the inauguration ceremony expressed his enthusiasm about the launch of the laboratory, stating that it marks a significant stride towards bolstering the capabilities of our law enforcement agencies in combating complex financial crimes in the digital age. He mentioned that this collaboration with the Directorate General of GST Intelligence is just the beginning as it represents initial phase of our commitment to establishing various verticals aimed at research, innovation, and knowledge dissemination in the field of digital forensics. Furthermore, the Vice Chancellor highlighted that this collaboration envisions  expanding into multifaceted dimensions, including joint research endeavours, training programs, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. 

DGGI remains committed to make maximum use of cutting-edge technologies and solutions that will be offered by these advanced Digital Forensic Labs, coupled with other analytical and technical tools presently available, for checking tax evasion, more effective investigations, and expeditious prosecution and securing conviction of the fraudsters/offenders.  

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