Hyderabad:The Telangana State Fingerprinting Department is constantly on the prowl for new softwares to enhance crime solving methods in the city. One such addition is the Papillon Expert Lab Device which uses detachable lights that illuminate impressions on objects, resulting in the discovery of incriminating evidence.
The device consists of 10 parts that together enable investigators to thoroughly scan any object, plastic, paper or even footprints on a surface. In order to achieve the same, the device uses four adjustable lighters namely, ultraviolet (UV), Infrared (IR), booster fill-in lights, adjustable light beam spotlight and lamps.
Each source of light has a specific ability to provide material evidence like impressions, footprints, traces of etching, wipe-offs, erasing, scratches or inscriptions and indented writing. The device can further allow the capture of objects and marks.
Mr Ravi Kumar, project manager of Papillon Devices, Hyderabad said, “These light sources, allow us to make efficient examinations of all or any type of object which is left back at the crime scene. It is nearly impossible for a perpetrator to be able to to cover up his tracks as even fibres are enough to gain a connection with the scene of the crime and the accused. If one lighting source does not fit the requirement, a dark-field box or translucent platform can increase the visibility of the impressions.”
On an average, the department claims to solve nearly 10 to 15 cases a month depending on the rate of crime. There is a need for such sophisticated crime solving techniques specially in white collar cases. The department is currently working fervently to uncover evidence of one disputed document case wherein the stakes of the results are really high, with lakhs of rupees being embezzled.
An official from the State Fingerprinting Department said, “We are currently working on a case but cannot give the details as it is still under investigation. However in the past, we were able to gain evidence on cases that involved cheques, paper and bottle like objects.”
Another aspect of the expert lab device is the capturing of forensic quality evidential photography of the resulted prints and impressions derived from the application of lights. The ability allows the forensic team to capture immediate pictures without having to move the object, paper or imprints.
