How to Submit WhatsApp Evidence in Court in India — 2025 Complete Guide
Submitting WhatsApp evidence in Indian courts requires following a specific legal procedure under Section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023. This guide covers everything — from exporting the chat to filing it in court — in plain language.
The Legal Requirement: Section 63 BSA 2023
Under Section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023 — which replaced the Indian Evidence Act — all electronic records including WhatsApp chats are admissible as evidence only if accompanied by a mandatory Section 63(4)(c) certificate.
The Supreme Court in Arjun Panditrao Khotkar v. Kailash Kushanrao Gorantyal (2020) 7 SCC 1 made clear: without this certificate, electronic evidence is inadmissible regardless of how authentic it appears.
The certificate must contain: the certifier's name and details, device information, a description of how the record was produced, and a SHA-256 cryptographic hash proving the data has not been altered.
Step-by-Step Procedure to Submit WhatsApp Evidence
Step 1 — Export the Chat from WhatsApp
Go to the chat in WhatsApp → tap ⋮ (More) → Export Chat → Without Media. Save the .txt (Android) or .zip (iPhone) file. Do not alter the file in any way after export.
Step 2 — Generate the Section 63 BSA Certificate and PDF
Upload the exported file to Chat2Evidence. Enter your name, opposing party name, and device model. Download the A4 PDF. This generates: the SHA-256 hash, a formatted certificate, and the complete chat timeline.
Step 3 — Sign the Certificate Page
Print the PDF. Sign Page 1 (the certificate page) in the signature block — your name, date, and signature. Some courts require this to be on stamp paper and/or sworn as an affidavit. Confirm with your advocate.
Step 4 — Number as Exhibit and File Through Advocate
Give the signed, printed PDF to your advocate. They will mark it as an exhibit (e.g., Exhibit A, or document no. X) and file it as part of your documents list. Keep the original exported .txt/.zip file safely — the court may ask for it.
Step 5 — Reference in Your Statement / Affidavit
Your advocate will reference the exhibit in your written statement: "The WhatsApp conversations between the Plaintiff and Defendant are annexed hereto as Exhibit A, certified under Section 63(4)(c) of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023."
Common Mistakes That Get WhatsApp Evidence Rejected
Submitting a printed chat or screenshots without the mandatory certificate.
Courts reject screenshots because they can be edited and have no cryptographic proof.
The certificate must include a hash value. Without it, the court cannot verify data integrity.
The certificate must match the actual device used. Wrong model or number invalidates the certificate.
Automatically generates all required elements: certificate, SHA-256 hash, device details, formatted timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in almost all cases. While the certificate itself is signed by you (the device owner), the filing procedure — numbering exhibits, preparing the documents list, drafting affidavits — must be done through a qualified advocate. Chat2Evidence generates the certificate, but your advocate handles the court filing.
In some consumer forums and Lok Adalats, parties can appear in person (in-person). Even then, you should submit the properly formatted PDF with Section 63 BSA certificate. Consumer forums have become increasingly strict about electronic evidence certification since BSA 2023.
WhatsApp evidence is typically submitted at the time of filing the original complaint/petition (attached as an exhibit), or during the documentary evidence stage of trial. Some courts allow it at interim stages for bail or injunction applications. Your advocate will advise on timing based on your case type.
Yes. The age of the messages is irrelevant — what matters is that they still exist on your device and you can export them. The Section 63 BSA certificate certifies that the device was in regular use during the relevant period. As long as you have the messages, they can be certified and submitted.
Yes — the other party can raise objections on grounds of authenticity or relevance. However, a SHA-256 hash embedded in the Section 63 certificate makes authenticity challenges very difficult to sustain. If challenged, the court can compare the hash against the original file to verify no tampering occurred.