Supreme Court ruling on narco analysis a setback, says CBI chief

CBI director Ashwini Kumar today termed the recent Supreme Court ruling against compulsory narco analysis, brain mapping and polygraph test as a "setback" to scientific investigation and maintained that the agency never resorted to compulsory tests on the accused.
     
"According to us, it is a setback for forensic science and scientific investigation. We will respond to it after studying it," Kumar told reporters here after inaugurating a CBI media workshop.
      
The investigating agency respected the Supreme Court judgement, he said, adding it would "follow it in letter and spirit."
      
As for the CBI, it always took the consent of the accused before conducting narco analysis test and "never has the CBI compulsorily done any test without consent of the accused so far," he said.
      
"Even if the person gives the consent, we have approached courts for permission and the tests were always conducted by experts," Kumar explained.
       
In a blow to investigating agencies, the Supreme Court had on May 5 ruled as illegal compulsory use of narco analysis, brain mapping and polygraph tests, saying such techniques amount to cruel and degrading treatment and unwarranted intrusion into personal liberty.