International Journal of Forensic Science

Today when people are becoming more advanced and technologically aware, people are getting new ideas of committing crimes and not getting caught, leading to an increase in the number of crimes. This has resulted in amendment to the existing laws in order to cater to needs of people. The techniques and methods used by criminals for the commission of crime is improving and therefore it becomes the need of the hour to adapt and build modern techniques of investigation. This is main reason why it becomes important that investigating authorities focus on collection of forensic evidences and their role in determining guilt of any person. Any criminal trial has to undergo through various stages starting from filing chargesheet in the court, collection of evidences, recording them and finally pronouncement of judgment. During this process, there are various types of evidences which play a major role and hold great value in any criminal trial. Through this paper, works already conducted in the field of forensic evidence shall be assessed and an attempt shall be made to suggest suitable reforms and changes that can be made in order to enhance the effectiveness of system. The principle of "Onus Probendi" which is mentioned under the Evidence Act states that "no person shall be assumed to be guilty merely on assumptions unless proved beyond reasonable doubt". While considering the scope of criminal jurisprudence in India, this rule plays an significant role and is one of the main reason why the use of forensic science has been limited in India. As the time has passed and country has progressed, criminal justice system has incorporated number of modern techniques, but even now a lot has to be done and changed by the authorities. With this paper, attempt has been made to explain the viewpoint behind these laws and legal provisions have been explored. This paper shall analyse the theory of forensic evidence with the help of relevant case laws and improve upon the understanding of people on forensic evidence in criminal trial and its importance. The author believes that the paper shall further play an important role in research on similar topics as well.

Keywords: Criminal justice system; Scientific evidence; Investigation; Prosecution; Legal approach and India.

The development of the forensic science field is achieving greater heights, bringing out the easiest, secured and most effective methods to solve the case as early as possible. As we handle a lot of issues related to the types of evidences and their importance in the field, we need such kind of powerful and concrete type of evidence on which investigation officer can rely. Fingerprints are one such kind which holds importance. There are various types of methods to develop different kinds of fingerprints (latent, patent, plastic prints) . “SUPER GLUE” (cyanoacrylate ester) is one of the best methods to develop the fingerprints. One procedure uses Gentian Violet and is particularly suited to clear polythene. The other is a fluorescent method, using a laser dye Coumarin 540/480 and is particularly suited to reflective surfaces such as aluminium foil and chrome.

Keywords: Fingerpints using; Alternative and reliable methods.

Aconites are the species under genus Aconitum. Though almost all these species are poisonous, Aconitum ferox (Indian Aconitum) is much more dangerous as compared to others and that is why also known as king of poisons. Despite their poisonous nature, some of them are being used in herbal medicines for the effective treatment of cold, fever, asthma, migraine, glaucoma, malaria, rheumatism, cut wounds, agitation, sweating, dysentery, alzheimer disease etc., after truncating their toxicity either through domestic decoction procedure or by soaking and boiling process. The poisonous nature of aconites is attributed to the presence of alkaloids mainly, aconitine in them. Higher levels of lethal alkaloids in roots make them highly poisonous. These alkaloids mainly affects the cardiovascular and nervous system as well as gastrointestinal tract causing symptoms like Paresthesia, numbness, hypotension, chest pain, sinus tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, vomiting and palpitations. The least probability of getting detected makes aconite an imperative poison to forensics because the nature of metabolites produced by them is quite similar to those produced by the human body. The current review provides a detailed description of biological and toxicological facets of various constituents of aconite, their detection in forensic and difficulties encountered in their detection.

Keywords: Aconite; Toxicity; Alkaloid; Forensic; Aconitine.
 

The increasing consumption of heavy metals in modern industries leads to an increase in the environmental burden. Nickel signifies a good example of a metal whose use is widening in modern technologies. As a result of the healthier consumption of nickel-containing products, nickel compounds are released to the environment at all stages of production and utilization. Nickel is a convenient metal, particularly in various alloys, in batteries, and in nickel-plating. Nickel compounds are used specifically as catalysts and pigments. In nickel-producing or nickel-using industries, about 0.2% of the workforce may be exposed to considerable amounts of airborne nickel. In addition, nickel release e.g., into cutting oils, and skin contact with nickel-containing or nickel-plated tools and other items may add to an occupational nickel exposure. Nickel is extremely mobile in soil, particularly in acidic soils. There is minute proof that nickel compounds accumulate in the food chain. Management of nickel is done with the help of a detoxifying method, which is done by using vitamin C, dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), 2,3-Dimercapto-1-propane sulfonic acid (DMPS), Garlic, etc. The detection and determination of nickel levels can be done by qualitative as well as quantitative methods etc., with the help of UV, AAS, Voltammetry method, NAA, etc.

Keywords: Nickel; Nickel toxicity; Heavy metals; Nickel poisoning; Pharmacokinetics; etc.

In present era, due to the progression in criminal justice system there has been a remarkable advancement of forensic sciences in the field of criminal justice system. Forensic science has its application in almost all of the criminal matters however investigations of homicides, arson and rape.1 Forensic evidences fulfill several roles by establishing the key aspects of crime, identity of the people associated with the crime, proving the methods of committing the crime and by exculpating the innocent. In 1952, India’s first State Forensic Science laboratory (SFSL) was established at Calcutta which became fully operational in 1953.1-3 India’s first Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) was established at Calcutta in 1957.6,7 In the new modern technological era the emergence of DNA testing has become a major factor in upgrading the roles of forensic science from being just a viewer to main key player in the legal system.11,13 Methods such as to raise the awareness and improved collaboration between forensic science and criminal sectors could be achieved by Cross Forensic Science Disciplinary Lerning and Teaching (CFSDLT). Current Indian scenario is highlighting the facts of section 45 and 46 of Indian Evidence Act 1872.5

Keywords: Criminal Justice System; Forensic evidences; State forensic science laboratory (SFSL); Central forensic science laboratory (CFSL); Cross forensic science disciplinary learning and Teaching (CFSDLT); DNA testing; Indian Evidence Act.

The digital revolution and the reasonable, high-speed Internet have together transformed the payments market. Nowadays, the new-age consumer is spending more time on "virtual platforms" and they prefer "digital conversations" means cashless and seamless payments. Frauds related to digital payment have seen a rising trend and there is an urgent need to revamp the secure techniques, transactional scams involving crores of rupees being unearthed in recent decades. The new-age hacker is using more sophisticated, innovative ways to obtain valuable customer information and login credentials to hack into accounts. Customer awareness of online security risks is often poor and they are easily duped into divulging confidential data to criminal groups that can then be used to authenticate fraudulent transactions. To deal with the fraud, we need to adopt various measures to make the digital payments landscape more secure. The current study analyses the current trend of transactional frauds and It also elucidates the impacts that are being faced due to the frauds. Further the study endeavours to throw light on the different types of unmasking techniques.

Keywords: Digital payment; Payment security; Electronic fraud; Online transaction; Fraud detection technique.

Background: In recent time, there are many different methods which are used in developing of the latent fingerprints. From all the methods which are used, powder and ninhydrin are one of the most preferred methods in the field of the forensic science because of their simplicity and effectiveness. They are more efficient in the dry, relatively smooth and non- adhesive surfaces. This paper elucidation the application of non-conventional powder for developing and visualization of latent fingerprints. In this, 5 different type of substrate is chosen. The study makes evaluation on the cheap and easily available powders which are effortlessly available in every Indian household. Result: The results obtained from this research are about 80% clear ridge details were seen on the different substrate like rice flour, potato powder, gram flour, Rasna and onion powder but only about 50% – 60% ridge details were seen in the case of the coffee, mint powder and tomato powder. Conclusion: Present study is an attempt to decipher the latent fingerprints with the help of non conventional methods. From the above used powder; rice flour, potato powder, Rasna and onion powder showed the better ridge details as compared to the other non conventional powder used.

Keywords: Latent fingerprints; Non-conventional Method; Tomato powder; Potato powder; Substrate

Pertaining to the volatile nature of sweat and presence of latent fingerprints as a chance-evidence on a large number of crime scenes, quick discovery and development of fingerprint is of due importance. As the immediate recovery of the evidence is not possible and due to the dynamic nature of the crime scene, especially in cases of the outdoor crime scene, the recovery of such evidence becomes quite cumbersome. Small Particle Reagent (SPR), by now, is a proven technique for developing fingerprints on wet non-porous surfaces. In the article, the authors compare the two SPR reagents Crystal Violet and Molybdenum di-sulphide for developing fingerprints that have been immersed in water for different time durations. The formulation of Crystal Violet is composed of basic zinc carbonate hydroxide monohydrate (ZnCo3-2Zn(OH)2-H2O)5 and a commercial liquid detergent i.e. Genteel. Genteel has been used for both Crystal Violet and Molybdenum di-sulphide. The ability to develop chance prints on non-porous wet surfaces by these two reagents is put to comparison. The findings will help choose a better reagent that would develop the latent chance-prints of more clarity.

Keywords: Fingerprint; Sweat; Small particle reagent; Genteel; Crime-scene.

Genetic polymorphism indices and forensic parameters at 22 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci were evaluated in 248 unrelated individuals of north-western Indian state Rajasthan. In total, 258 alleles were observed with an average of 11.72 alleles per locus. The most polymorphic and discriminative locus was Penta E with a value of 0.904 and 0.913 respectively. The combined power of exclusion and the combined power of discrimination were found to be 0.999999999 and 1 respectively. Additionally, the genetic relationship of the studied population with the reported Indian as well as global populations was investigated. The studied population showed genetic affinity with the previously reported population of Rajasthan and geographical close population’s i.e. populations of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand. All the STR loci were found polymorphic, and the select panel of STRs was found suitable for population genetic studies and forensic analysis.

Keywords: Power plex fusion 5C system; Rajasthan; Genetic diversity; Polymorphism; STRs

"Absinthe" a strong aromatic green coloured alcoholic beverage with addictive, psychotropic and hallucinogenic properties has been the most popular and intriguing intoxicant since 19th century. Owing to its apparent illusive perception it was named "la fe′e verte" a French word means "the green fairy". It was condemned for inducing insane and criminal act and was also stigmatised as madness in a bottle. Later, owing to detection of psychedelic ingredient ‘thujone’, the absinthe remained banned for 95 years; however, its fame ride over the suppleness in laws and in 2007, it was reintroduced with varying concentration of thujone laced with harmful flavouring additives. The avaricious manufactures have been lucratively selling absinthes without printing its chemical composition on the bottle labels by taking advantage of loopholes in govt. policies. The government agencies remain focused on lowering the concentration of thujone in “green fairy” than publishing the harmful effects of its flavouring additives. To unequivocally establish a technique for the detection of harmful flavouring additives in absinthe remained a scientific challenge for decades. Henceforth, we attempted to analyse samples of popular foreign liquor brand "Paranasse Absinth” by GC-MS technique. Our research outcome led to successful chemical profiling of absinthe by detection of multiple flavouring additives viz. maltose, sucrose, anethole and methyl ethyl ketone. Amongst the detected additives, anethole is toxic, irritant, estrogenic and cytotoxic; methyl ethyl ketone is irritant, allergic, causes dizziness, cancer hazard and reproductive hazard, effect respiratory tract and CNS. Moreover, these two additives can also act as chemical precursors of Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS). Hence, through this research an effort is made to secure public health and to alert the private/govt. agencies regarding these health/immunity hazardous alcoholic beverage with high alcohol content and flavouring additives especially in COVID-19 pandemic. Our research outcome will attribute a legal check in the uncontrolled trade of potentially unsafe herbal beverages such as absinthe.

Keywords: Absinthe; Flavouring additives; Anethole; Methyl ethyl ketone, Thujone; Green fairy liquor.

Organophosphate pesticides are chemical substances majorly used on crops to kill number of pests, including worms and insects. They are also the main components of Nerve Gases. Acute or Chronic exposure to these pesticides produces varying levels of toxicity in not only plants or insects, but also in humans and animals. One example of OP insecticide is Chlorpyrifos, which is known to act on nervous system of humans and insects by inhibiting Acetyl-Cholinesterase enzyme. Large number of lethal cases has been reported for Chlorpyrifos Poisoning, because of which its sale is strictly monitored in our country now and is totally banned for household uses. In this Research work, our main focus was on developing new Thin Layer Chromatography Solvent Systems for extracted Chlorpyrifos from Blood using Solvent (LLE) and Dispersive Liquid-liquid Micro-extraction technique (DLLME). Further successful qualitative results were obtained using instruments like UV-Vis Spectrophotometry and High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography.

Keywords: Forensic Toxicology; Chlorpyrifos; Solvent extractions; UV- Vis Spectrophotometry; TLC; HPTLC