Parliament passes Bill to tabulate DNA

Hyderabad: Parliament passed the DNA Regulation Bill during the ongoing Monsoon Session after almost 11 years. 

One of the major provisions of the Bill is the use of DNA technology to solve crimes. This could be done by setting up a National DNA Data Bank and a DNA Profiling Board.

The DNA bank would collect and store data from offenders, suspects, missing persons and unidentified dead bodies. DNA profiling would be able to link repeat offenders to crimes. 

One example of this was the arrest of Brijesh Yadav, a soldier, for an attempted rape recently and the rape of another girl from December 2017. Officials said DNA testing enabled them to make a connection between the two crimes.

The recent victim had scratches on her body, which were swabbed for DNA, as were the scratches on the previous victim from 2017 and the samples stored. When Yadav was arrested, his DNA was collected and matched with those found on the victims.

CLUES scientific officer Dr Venkanna Narukudi said, “DNA profiling has had a tremendous impact on crime-solving in the state. With the enactment of the Bill, DNA databanks will be set up. The purpose of these banks would be to collect and store data from crime scenes, suspects, undertrials, offenders, missing persons and unknown deceased persons. This data would enable DNA profiling to be used to solve crimes.”  

Another forensic specialist and founder of Truth Labs, Dr K.P.C. Gandhi, said, “DNA profiling using index systems will go a long way in helping with the identification of unidentified bodies. The banks would be similar to the long-standing CODIS technology being used in the US.” 

The use of such systems usually falls in the hands of local law enforcement bodies. Solving crimes is not a narrow windowless corridor, but a vast complicated maze that requires more than just a scientific approach. Hyderabad police commissioner Anjani Kumar said, “DNA profiling is being used in the state to solve crimes. The recent rape case was solved in 24 hours due to DNA testing. In the past, an accused would be arrested and often be able to get bail within 20 days. In this case we were able to nail the guilty within 24 hours and ensure justice was served.”