New Delhi: The forensic scientists in the Forensic Science Laboratory, Rohini, which was on an upward trend to visit more crime scenes in June, increased significantly in July, and they visited 2,130 crime scenes while in the whole of the previous year, it only visited 1,144 crime scenes. This marked increase in activity is attributed to the new criminal laws that were enacted on July 1.
This increase in forensic investigation happens against the backdrop of the adoption of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Again, under Section 176 of the BNSS, forensic investigations are mandatory where the case involves an offence that is compounded by seven years imprisonment or more. This is quite a change from the previous standard, which did not include statutory standards for crime scene management and results from state to state. Before, the investigating officers had chosen which crime scenes would be subject to forensic investigation.
Serving 15 districts of Delhi, FSL Rohini is situated at Madhuban Chowk and is charged with the task of collecting the evidence of any crime scene. The laboratory currently employs 390 personnel and out of them, 63 are forensic specialists who together have to process around 80 scenes of crime daily. Before the appearance of the new laws, the FSL team had been increasing its activity level on its own. In the period of a single half of the year from January to June 2024, they have paid a visit to 12760 crime scenes which in number is more than in total throughout the eighteen years of their work. Since its inception in 2005, FSL Rohini has been summoned to an aggregate of 6,352 crime scenes, of which only 6 were in the first year and 1,144 in the year 2023.
Forensic science expert Rajnish Kumar pointed out that a sharp increase in crime scene visits was recorded starting January 2024, the time prior to implementing such laws. The FSL has launched a pilot project in association with the Delhi Police at the beginning of this year.
Check here for the latest updates in Hindi!