Rising demand for private forensics increased

Chennai: With more mobile penetration and bank frauds post demonetisation, the demand for forensic services had increased in all the tier one cities like Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru and we will know exact figures by next month after compilation,” said Dr G. V. H. V. Prasad, director (Hyderabad) Truth Labs.

According to private labs and detective agencies in Chennai, there are several references from police and investigating agencies across south India seeking audio authentication tests and matters involving money laundering like signatuares on cheques.  

The circulated written letters by the forensic lab Truth Labs offering services had also created a discussion among the legal fraternity in Chennai on whether a private firm can do justice, when it comes to forensic science and medico-legal cases as the subject, globally, is dealt only by the government departments.
However, a few advocates fear that forensic reports can be fudged if handled by private labs.

A forensic scientist with Truth Labs in Chennai said, “Besides the recent bank frauds, obscene anonymous mails, cause of death, investigation of premature failures of buildings, cause of fire accidents, examination of thumb impressions are some of the growing areas in South India and we are periodically recruiting forensic graduates for our lab services”. “I received a letter from the private lab insisting me to avail their forensic services, but I am not sure to what extent the private lab tests can be trusted”, said advocate C.A. Prabhakar, practicising in Madras High Court. “One of my client’s case related to a property purchase with forged signatures in Kancheepuram is pending for five years and the forensic opinion from government doctors is still pending for months”, A. Prabhakar rued.

Responding to this, Mr. Prasad said that their lab had tied up with the prestigious Centre for Cellular and Molecular biology for DNA and fingerprinting expertise and Indian Institute of Chemical Technology and is now on an expansion spree in Chennai and is to start its operations shortly in Kolkatta. Over the past few years more than 3,000 cases have been referred to our labs by courts in Delhi, Karnataka, Andhra and Tamil Nadu, he added.

What is forensic medicine?

Questioned Documents
All types of forgeries, frauds relating to handwriting and signatures on cheques, promissory notes, wills, sale deeds, stamp papers etc. ink, paper, counterfeit currency printed material etc.

Cyber Forensics
Obscene and anonymous emails, defamation, Identity theft, hacking, phishing, data manipulations etc.

Medico-Legal
To ascertain the cause and time of death, nature and cause

Failure Analysis
Investigation of premature failures of buildings, bridges, fire accidents, arson, sub standard goods, inferior quality of materials etc.

Polygraph/Lie - detector
Matters involving fraud, theft, cheating, impersonation, infidelity, employee dishonesty etc.

Disputed Fingerprints
Examination of thumb impressions, fingerprints and palm prints on documents and other surfaces.

DNA
Identification of the dead, disputed paternity, child swapping, hereditary matters etc.

Audio/Video
authentication: speaker identification, Voice analysis, Image and Photo authentication.