SHASTA CHITS AND FINANCE PVT. LTD. vs UNION OF INDIA .

The Supreme Court held that officers of the Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) do not qualify as 'police officers' under Section 25 of the Evidence Act, despite being vested with powers under Section 53 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The Court emphasized that Section 25 provides protection against self-incrimination, but this protection does not extend to DRI officials as they lack the full attributes of police officers conducting investigations under the Code of Criminal Procedure. Consequently, the confessional statements made by the appellant and the petitioner were deemed admissible in evidence, leading to the dismissal of their appeal and special leave petition.