Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) K. L. N. Rao on Tuesday, 26 May appeared before a Kutch court through video conferencing from Gandhinagar to record his testimony in a 2021 Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) case — an instance officials cited as a concrete demonstration of digital technology reshaping judicial proceedings across the state.

How the Remote Testimony Worked

Rao deposed from the Formal Witness Deposition Centre at the Gandhinagar District Court, while the hearing proceeded simultaneously at a court in Gandhidham, Kutch. His testimony pertained to the prosecution's sanction in the ACB case and was recorded entirely through the court's videoconferencing facility, eliminating a lengthy inter-district journey.

Officials noted that the arrangement allowed the entire deposition to be completed in a short time, sparing the state's top police officer a round trip between two distant districts.

The Broader Push for Digital Court Infrastructure

The videoconferencing system is part of a coordinated effort by Gujarat's judiciary and police department to reduce the physical travel burden on witnesses, officers, and other stakeholders. According to the police department, the facility is designed to save time and cut fuel and logistics costs, while ensuring hearings are not stalled by witness unavailability or mobility constraints.

The system also addresses a persistent operational strain: police personnel routinely pulled off law-and-order duties for court appearances. By enabling remote testimony, the arrangement allows officers to remain focused on field work. Notably, the infrastructure further reduces the need to transport prisoners from jails to court premises for routine hearings, which officials said 'helps in lowering escort deployment costs and minimising security risks associated with such movement.'

What the DGP Said

Rao underscored the urgency of technology adoption in the justice system. 'Adopting technology is the need of the hour. This system helps save time, energy, and fuel, which is a national resource,' he said. He also appealed to police personnel, witnesses, and citizens across Gujarat to make wider use of videoconferencing facilities available at courts in the state.

Bakri Eid Security Review on the Same Day

Later on Tuesday, Rao chaired a statewide security review meeting via video conference from Police Bhavan, Gandhinagar, ahead of the Bakri Eid festival. The meeting was attended virtually by all city police commissioners, range inspectors general, and district superintendents of police.

Officials were instructed to maintain strict surveillance over social media rumours, strengthen policing in sensitive areas, and ensure adequate personnel deployment. Traffic management plans and emergency response readiness were also reviewed as part of the festival preparedness framework, with communal harmony identified as a priority.

As Gujarat scales up its digital court infrastructure, the DGP's own remote appearance may set a precedent for senior officials across the state's law-enforcement hierarchy.