'Forensic evidence is the best evidence'

Mumbai, Dec 16: The Forensic evidence is the best and the most conclusive form of evidence that the law machinery depends on for investigating a crime and to nail the guilty, Mumbai joint commissioner of police (law&order) Mr Arup Patnaik said here today.

He was speaking at a seminar organised by St Xavier's college at Mahapalika Marg in south Mumbai.

The students questioned Mr Patnaik on various procedures of law and he patiently explained the importance of narco analysis, finger print analysis, DNA analysis and the latest lie-detector test.

''When a person is questioned on a subject unpleasant to him, there is a reaction in his body, like a change in the rate of heart beat, pulse, dilation of the pupils etc. This is what we detect by attaching various electronic nodes to his body and determine if he is lying,'' he explained.

But the lie detector test, narco analysis and brain mapping tests, just give a lead to the investigation and are not conclusive in nature. Whereas, forensic tests are conclusive and undisputable unless tampered with, he noted.

''In case of narco analysis test, chemicals have to be injected into the subject's body and crooks have been avoiding it by taking relief in some provisions of the Constitution that provides that a person cannot be forced to be a witness against himself. Therefore the findings of these tests are disregarded in Court,'' Mr Patnaik lamented.

But the Courts have now become more supportive and a section of the Criminal Procedure code provides that the accused has to go through certain tests necessary for the investigation, whether he likes it or not, he pointed out.

''Forensic tests also bring to light realities in cases of custodial deaths and police encounters'', he observed.

While confessions recorded by a police officer are not admissible as evidence before a Court of law, forensic tests can vindicate the findings of the investigations and nail the guilty, Mr Patnaik concluded.

UNI