India’s criminal justice system is undergoing a transformative shift with the integration of technology into its investigative processes. Among the noteworthy advancements is the eSakshya app, developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), which aims to streamline the collection, management, and preservation of digital evidence. For forensic science students, understanding the capabilities and implications of […]
Jammu and Kashmir Forensic Science Laboratory Achieves Milestone with First Genetic Data Publication
Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) of Jammu and Kashmir has announced its pioneering publication of genetic data on the Union Territory’s population. This study, based on hyper-variable Short Tandem Repeats (STRs), was published in the esteemed International Journal of Legal Medicine (IJLM). The research involved a sample of 694 randomly selected, unrelated individuals to examine the […]
Case Study: Leveraging Forensic Odontology in Criminal Justice
Background In May 2019, a quiet village in Karnataka was shaken by a tragic incident involving a young woman who was assaulted in her home. The village was in a festive mood for a local temple fair, and while her family attended the celebration, the woman, who had specific needs requiring constant care, was left […]
Case Study: The Berkeley Murder and the Tarasoff Ruling
Background In 1969, Prosenjit Poddar, an Indian student studying at UC Berkeley, met Tatiana Tarasoff, and the two developed a friendship. However, Poddar became romantically infatuated with Tarasoff, which was not reciprocated. After feeling rejected, Poddar exhibited symptoms of emotional instability and began experiencing obsessive thoughts about her. Poddar sought counseling at the University of […]
Wildlife Forensics Uncovers Fungal Toxins Linked to Elephant Deaths in Bandhavgarh
Recent findings from the School of Wildlife Forensics and Health (SWFH) have revealed a tragic link between the deaths of several elephants in Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and acute poisoning from fungal toxins. Contrary to early suspicions of pesticide poisoning, SWFH, a leading wildlife forensic body, confirmed that the elephants had likely consumed contaminated […]
How Flies Helped MP Police Crack a Blind Murder Case
In a strange twist of fate, a murder investigation that seemed destined to go cold was solved by an unlikely clue—flies. The case involved a young man who was initially cleared of suspicion, but as it turned out, the persistence of flies led police to the truth. Here’s how a simple swarm of flies became […]