International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 13 Issue: 02 | Feb 2026
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
BLOCKCHAIN ENABLED SECURE CLOUD STORAGE FOR CRIMINAL EVIDENCE Mr. J. Ramesh1, M.Gayathri2, Sravani Sajjan3, M. Shivani4, Md Fareed Baba5 1Asst.Professor in Department of IT, TKR College of Engineering and Technology, Telangana, India 2345 BTECH Students in Department of IT, TKR College of Engineering and Technology, Telangana, India
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Abstract – The increasing reliance on digital evidence in
users, and allows admins to monitor and manage all uploaded evidence. Users can verify the authenticity of a file at any time by re-uploading it for hash comparison, ensuring the evidence has not been altered. This approach provides a lightweight, blockchain-inspired solution for evidence security, offering high reliability without the complexity of full-scale blockchain implementation. By combining file integrity verification, controlled access, and centralized metadata storage, the system provides an efficient and trustworthy platform for managing digital evidence in investigations and legal proceedings.
legal investigations demands secure and tamper-proof storage solutions. This project presents a Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) that ensures the integrity, authenticity, and traceability of digital files using SHA-256 hashing. The system allows users to register, upload files, and generate unique hash keys for each uploaded evidence. Admins have control over user management, including account activation, deactivation, and monitoring of all uploaded files. When a user uploads a file for verification, the system computes its SHA-256 hash and compares it with existing entries in the database, thereby detecting any tampering or alteration. The uploaded files, along with associated metadata such as file name, uploader, timestamp, and hash key, are stored securely in a local media folder, ensuring organized evidence management. The platform also incorporates a secure password recovery mechanism using email-based OTP verification. By integrating file hashing with a robust user management framework, the system offers a reliable and efficient solution for managing digital evidence in investigations and legal proceedings. This approach provides a lightweight, blockchain-inspired model for evidence integrity without requiring a full blockchain implementation, making it practical for small- to medium-scale investigative workflows.
1.1 Need for Secure and Tamper-Proof Criminal Evidence Management In modern criminal investigations, digital evidence such as CCTV footage, forensic reports, call records, and cyber logs plays a crucial role in solving cases and ensuring justice. However, traditional evidence storage systems—often centralized or manually managed—are vulnerable to data breaches, unauthorized access, manipulation, and accidental loss. Even a minor alteration in evidence can compromise its integrity, leading to legal disputes and weakening its admissibility in court. To maintain the chain of custody, criminal evidence must remain confidential, immutable, and verifiable from the moment of collection to its presentation in court. As the volume of digital evidence grows rapidly, law enforcement agencies require a robust system that ensures long-term preservation, traceability, and accountability while preventing tampering and insider threats. This challenge has highlighted the need for advanced security mechanisms beyond conventional databases.
Key Words: Digital Evidence, SHA-256, File Verification, Tamper Detection, Evidence Management System, Django.
1. INTRODUCTION In modern legal and investigative processes, digital evidence has become a crucial component in establishing facts and proving cases. With the proliferation of digital data, the integrity, authenticity, and traceability of such evidence are paramount. Traditional methods of evidence storage often involve manual handling, centralized databases, or unprotected file systems, which are vulnerable to tampering, accidental loss, or unauthorized access. Any alteration in the digital evidence can compromise investigations and lead to legal challenges. To address these challenges, the Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) integrates SHA-256 hashing to secure files uploaded by authorized users. Each file is processed to generate a unique hash key that acts as a digital fingerprint, ensuring that even minor modifications are detectable. The system incorporates robust user management, where admin approval is required for new
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1.2 Role of Blockchain and Cloud in Enhancing Evidence Security Blockchain technology offers a decentralized and immutable ledger that can significantly enhance the security of criminal evidence storage. By recording cryptographic hashes of evidence files on the blockchain, any unauthorized modification can be instantly detected, ensuring authenticity and non-repudiation. Each transaction related to evidence access, transfer, or modification is time-stamped and transparently logged, strengthening trust among law enforcement agencies, forensic departments, and judicial authorities.
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