How Forensic Science Cracked India’s Most Chilling Cases

True crime podcasts often focus on the detective, the motive, or the criminal’s mind. But in many of the most baffling cases, the real hero is silent, methodical, and scientific: Forensic Science.

In a revealing podcast, forensic expert Priyanshi Jain pulled back the curtain on how her field operates in the real world, far from the dramatic, instant-results world of TV shows like CID. She delved into how forensics was the key to solving—or attempting to solve—some of India’s most infamous cases.

What Does a Forensic Expert Actually Do?

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not all about dramatic pronouncements at a crime scene. Priyanshi broke down the role:

Crime Scene Investigation (CSI): The primary role involves visiting crime scenes, collecting evidence, preserving it, and submitting it to laboratories.

Meticulous Documentation: Everything is documented through photography, videography, note-taking, and sketching. If a cup is moved, it must be recorded. This chain of documentation is crucial for evidence to be admissible in court.

Finding the Invisible: Police can collect visible evidence. Forensic experts are called for what the naked eye can’t see—invisible blood stains, latent fingerprints, and microscopic trace evidence.

Forensics in Action: The Cases That Shocked a Nation

The podcast highlighted how forensics played a pivotal role in several headline-making cases:

The Nithari Killings (A Case of “Lack of Evidence”)

This horrific case involved the discovery of children’s skeletal remains. Forensic teams used DNA profiling from bone marrow to identify the victims by matching samples with parents who had filed missing persons reports. While the servant, Surinder Koli, confessed to necrophilia and cannibalism, the conviction of the homeowner, Moninder Singh Pandey, was controversially overturned due to a perceived “lack of evidence,” showcasing the legal system’s heavy reliance on forensic proof.

The Aarushi Talwar-Hemraj Double Murder

This case became a textbook example of how a botched crime scene investigation can derail justice. Key errors included:
The crime scene was not properly sealed or preserved. Hemraj’s body lay on the open terrace for two days, exposed to heavy rain, leading to advanced decomposition. The rain washed away a crucial bloodied palm print on a wall before it could be properly analyzed for fingerprints. These forensic missteps created massive hurdles in the investigation from the very beginning.

The Shraddha Walkar Murder (The Aftab Poonawala Case)

Here, forensics triumphed over a perpetrator who tried to be “smart.” Aftab allegedly used chemicals to clean blood stains and dismembered the body. However, the forensic team used chemical reagents like Benzidine and Phenolphthalein and alternate light sources to develop these “cleaned” invisible blood stains, proving that a violent crime had occurred in that apartment despite his efforts to erase it.

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The Nirbhaya Gang-Rape Case

This case underscores the vital importance of evidence collected from a victim’s body in sexual assault cases. Forensic experts found bite marks on Nirbhaya. They took bite mark impressions from all the accused and matched them, providing solid physical evidence. Combined with DNA analysis from semen samples, this forensic evidence was crucial in securing convictions.

The Burari Deaths (A “Ritual Accident”)

Often mischaracterized as a mass murder, the Burari case was officially deemed a tragic “ritual accident.” The investigation revealed 11 diaries detailing rituals guided by one family member, Lalit. Handwriting analysis confirmed the diaries were written by the family’s younger members. The evidence pointed to a shared psychological delusion or folie à deux, rather than a criminal act, showing how forensics can also rule out crime.

Beyond the Headlines: The Real Challenges of Forensics

It’s Time-Consuming: It’s not a 2-minute process. Teams use systematic methods (Grid, Spiral, Zone) to search large areas, which can take hours or even days.

The Crime Scene is Everywhere: It’s not always a room. It could be a forest, a river, or a massive airplane crash site, making evidence collection incredibly complex.

The Clock is Ticking: Evidence degrades over time. The “Law of Progressive Change” means the longer it takes to collect and preserve evidence, the more it deteriorates. For example, semen samples must be collected within 24-48 hours to identify spermatozoa properly.

A Career in Forensics: Is It For You?

For those inspired by this field, Priyanshi offered clear advice:

Scope in India: There is a significant and growing scope for forensic experts in India, especially with new laws mandating their presence for crimes punishable by over 7 years in jail.

The Reality: It is a government job with a fixed pay scale. Don’t enter expecting to become a millionaire; the reward is in the contribution to justice.

The Key Traits: You need passion, patience, and integrity. Confidentiality is paramount—experts cannot even discuss cases with their families until they are closed.

Final Verdict

The world of forensic science is a powerful, meticulous, and often unsung pillar of the justice system. It’s not about quick deductions but about patient, scientific work that speaks for victims when they no longer can. As these cases show, a single hair, a drop of invisible blood, or a page from a diary can be the key to uncovering the truth.

Want to learn more about a career in forensics? Forensic expert Priyanshi Jain provides guidance and education on her social media platforms.