Sheena Bora murder case: CBI to use ‘Touch-DNA’ technique

New Delhi: The CBI is likely to use costly “Touch-DNA” or Low Count Number technique to nail the accused in the high-profile controversial Sheena Bora murder case. There is only one UK-based lab that can develop DNA from the exhibits with LCN technique.

Sources said, “The CBI sleuths have started collecting all circumstantial and scientific evidence related to the case from the Maharashtra police. If required, the agency will certainly use ‘Touch-DNA’ technique to ascertain the identity of the accused in this case.”

“This technique refers to the DNA that is recovered from skin (epithelial) cells that is left behind when a person touches or comes in contact with items such as clothes, a weapon, or other objects. A person sheds about 400,000 skin cells per day, but it is the lower skin cells that will provide the best DNA profile. These cells are typically recovered when force is used such as on the victim’s clothes or at a crime scene after a struggle has occurred,” sources said.

The decision to use this technique may be taken only after discussing the matter with forensic experts, sources added. The CBI on Tuesday initiated its probe into the Sheena Bora murder case. The special crime unit of the agency has lodged a case against Indrani Mukherjee, Sanjay Khanna and Shyamvar Pinturam Rai. CBI officials, along with a team of experts from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, have already reached Mumbai. They may also re-create the crime scene, sources said.

The CBI has registered a case against all three under Section 120-B, 364, 302, 307, 328, 201, 202, 203 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3(25) of the Arms Act.

The CBI took over the investigation of the case, which was earlier registered by the Mumbai police, on the allegations that accused persons hatched a criminal conspiracy to murder Sheena Bora and in persuance of the said criminal conspiracy, the accused persons allegedly abducted her and murdered her and disposed off her body.