By Kushal Deenadayalan Volunteer at AFRS

Abstract

The Jessica Lal kill case was a thrilling criminal trial in India that brought to light genuine concerns around riches, control, and the responsibility of the legal framework.

Jessica Lal, a show and barkeep, deplorably misplaced her life on April 29, 1999, amid a party in Delhi that was facilitated by socialite Bina Ramani. The most suspect, Manu Sharma, who is the child of powerful lawmaker Vinod Sharma, supposedly shot her after she declined to serve him liquor after hours.

Introduction

The Jessica Lal murder case is a completely excessive-profile homicide case. this situation has continually made me marvel how cruel who one can be out of nowhere shot a harmless woman who refused to serve him a drink of his choice. It made us trust that justice nevertheless prevails despite the fact of who the accused is. It made us be given the reality that justice can be behind schedule but, ultimately, it is going to be served. Media performed a powerful role in this case. Jessica’s case was the beginning of an unbiased media that led a national marketing campaign for justice.

Case Summary

Accused = Manu Sharma

Victim Name = Jessica Lal

Date of Incident = 30 April 1999

High Court Acquittal = 2006 (Delhi High Court)

Born on = 5 January 1965 India

Died on = 30 April 1999 aged 34 New Delhi

Cause of Death = Gunshot Wound to the Head

Occupation of Victim = Model

Final Judgement= 20 December 2006

Judges = Supreme Court of India Chief Justice Sathasivam and Justice Swatantar Kumar

Case Facts

In April 1999, Jessica Lal, a model, was fatally shot by Manu Sharma at a social gathering in Delhi, following her refusal to serve him alcohol. Notably, Sharma is the son of a prominent political figure, which added significant public interest to the incident.

The trial that followed was fraught with complications. A considerable number of eyewitnesses retracted their statements, resulting in Sharma’s acquittal in 2006. This verdict triggered widespread public indignation and calls for accountability.

Extensive media coverage and collective public demonstrations played a crucial role in prompting judicial review. Subsequently, the Delhi High Court overturned the initial acquittal later that year, sentencing Sharma to life imprisonment.

Sharma’s eventual release in 2020 renewed debate over the efficacy of India’s legal system. The case remains a stark example of issues such as witness intimidation, political influence, and protracted judicial processes within the country.

Case Background

April twenty ninth,1999; the date whilst the incident befell. there has been a celebration organized through leave out Bina Ramani, a resident of Delhi at Tamarind court restaurant in Mehrauli, Delhi. With an envisioned guest listing of 300 human beings. Jessica turned into employed as a version barmaid at the birthday celebration. She was doing her responsibility along with certainly one of her pals, Shayan Munshi.

Medico Legal Report

Conducted By: Dr. K Goel Aiims Delhi
Date of Autopsy: 1st May 1999

External Examination:

·         Gender: Female

·         Age: ~34 years

·         Height: 165 cm

·         Identification Marks: Tattoo on left forearm

·         Clothing: Blood-stained party dress

Internal Examination:

·         Skull: Fractured parietal bone with brain tissue lacerations.

·         Brain: Extensive damage with bullet tract through the right temporal lobe.

·         Cause of Death: Hemorrhagic shock due to firearm injury to the head.

1. Cause of death

·         Gunshot wound: The death was caused by a pill injury to the head (temporary area).

·         Fire range: Close ranges shot (near contact or within a few feet) suggested deliberate work.

·         Deadly injury: Bullet trajectory and brain damage confirmed immediate death.

2. Postmortem conclusion

·         Entry and exit wounds: A single bullet entry wound without any exhaust reflects the pill recorded inside the skull.

·         Forensic Ballistic: 22 Caliber Bullets allegedly matched the gun (although the weapon was never recovered).

·         Death time: Estimated between 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm (immediately after shooting at the party).

3. Poisoning report

·         No alcohol/drugs: Jessica Lal had no traces of intoxication, which rejects any defense claims of changes under influence.

4. Legal importance

·         Corroborated Eyewitness Accounts: MLR supported the witness's statements that Manu Sharma fired from the near border in Jessica.

·         Contraindicate defense claims: The report rejected the principles of accidental firing or self -defense.

5. Challenges in the case

·         Weapon not recovered: Lack of ballistic evidence initially weakened the prosecution.

·         Delayed Autopsy: A slight delay in forensic processes raised questions but did not change the main conclusions.

Link Between The Murder

It became the bullets and casings left in the back of that spoke the loudest. The reputedly silent projectiles became the storytellers of a hidden conspiracy when analyzed beneath the scrutiny of forensic.

Manu Sharma (born 1977), born Siddharth Vashisht and now referred to as Siddharth Sharma, is an Indian convicted assassin who was imprisoned for the 1999 homicide of Jessica Lal. He was launched in June 2020 on grounds of excellent conduct. Sharma is the son of the former Indian country wide Congress chief, Vinod Sharma and the brother of media baron, Karthikeya Sharma.

Role of Forensic Ballistics

The Jessica Lal murder case was a high-profile criminal investigation in India that involved forensic ballistics to establish key evidence. Jessica, a model and bartender, was shot dead at a party in Delhi on April 29, 1999, after she refused to serve alcohol to the prime suspect, Manu Sharma son of wealthy politician Vinod Sharma.

1. Recuperation of Fired Cartridge cases

·         22 quality cartridge cases were discovered on the crime scene.

·         Those have been sent to the significant Forensic technological know-how Laboratory (CFSL) for analysis.

2. Firearm identity

·         The bullets have been fired from a 22-caliber pistol.

·         The suspect, Manu Sharma, allegedly used his father’s certified revolver (later claimed to be "misplaced").

·         Because actual weapon changed into never recovered, ballistic specialists depended on microscopic striation marks on the bullets to fit them with take a look at-fired rounds from similar guns.

3. Gunshot Residue (GSR) analysis

·         GSR exams were performed on suspects to decide if they had currently fired a gun.

·         Manu Sharma and his friends had been examined, but delays in sample series weakened this evidence. Forensic professionals test-fired unique 22 caliber weapons to compare striations. The dearth of the real murder weapon made actual matching difficult, but the bullet traits strongly counseled 22 quality revolver.

4. Witness & Forensic Corroboration

·         Witnesses, including Shayan Munshi (who later became opposed), first stated they saw Manu Sharma firing the shots.

·         Forensic proof supported witness statements, however the weapon’s absence created reasonable doubt to begin with.

Supreme Court Judgment

The Supreme Court of India upheld the conviction of Manu Sharma (Siddharth Vashisht) in the Jessica Lal murder case, delivering its final judgment on April 19, 2010. The Court confirmed his life imprisonment under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and dismissed his appeal against the Delhi High Court’s 2006 verdict.

Conclusion

This case left a mark on every character’s coronary heart as it regarded very personal to everybody. As we all are conscious that Courts provide justice but if one believes to elevate his voice much like our gutsy and lionhearted media did, nobody can prevent us. this case became revolving around a political perspective which initially gave us a worry of biasness. but our judiciary device proved otherwise.

Dozens of witnesses pointed to Siddharth Vashisht, also referred to as Manu Sharma, the son of Vinod Sharma, a rich and influential Member of Parliament from Haryana, as the murderer. Manu Sharma was later convicted of the murder and sentenced to existence.

By A.PRAWIN

   Student Ambassador of AFRS

1. Introduction about the Case

The Nirbhaya case refers to a brutal gang rape and murder that occurred in New Delhi, India, in December 2012. The victim was a 23-year-old female physiotherapy intern who was assaulted by six individuals while traveling with her male friend on a private bus. The incident deeply impacted the nation, sparking outrage, mass protests, and debates on women’s safety, policing, and the judicial system in India.

This case became a landmark for the role of forensic science in securing convictions in sexual assault cases and contributed to widespread changes in India’s criminal laws related to gender-based violence.

2. Details of the Case

On the night of December 16, 2012, the victim and her male friend boarded a private charter bus at around 9:30 p.m. after watching a movie. The bus, however, was illegally operating without a license and had been hijacked by six men who intended to use it for robbery and other crimes.

Inside the moving bus:

●        The male friend was beaten with an iron rod and restrained.

●        The woman was gang-raped by all six men.

●        She was also physically assaulted with a metal rod, leading to severe internal injuries.

●        After about an hour-long ordeal, both the victims were stripped and thrown out of the bus onto the roadside.

They were found by a passerby and rushed to Safdarjung Hospital. Due to the critical nature of her injuries, the woman was later transferred to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, where she succumbed to her injuries on December 29, 2012.

The case led to a widespread public movement and was pivotal in increasing awareness about crimes against women in India.

3. Investigation Carried Out

The Delhi Police launched a high-priority investigation, which included:

●        Eyewitness statements: The male companion, despite his injuries, provided a detailed description of the attackers and the bus.

●        CCTV footage analysis: Cameras installed at toll booths and roads helped track the movement of the bus.

●        Tracing the bus: The bus was located based on its color and registration details provided by witnesses.

●        Arrests: Within a few days, all six suspects were arrested from various locations in Delhi and Bihar.

●        Recovery of items: Personal items belonging to the victim and her friend were recovered from the bus, including clothing and the iron rod used in the assault.

●        Scientific collection of evidence: Biological samples were taken from the bus, the victim, and the accused for forensic analysis.

Delhi Police's quick and methodical investigation was essential in building a strong case for the prosecution.

4. Forensic Aspects of the Case

Forensic evidence was key to establishing the guilt of the accused:

a. DNA Profiling

●        Semen samples collected from the victim’s body and her clothes were tested at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL).

●        The DNA profile matched with that of the accused individuals, directly linking them to the rape.

b. Fingerprints

●        Fingerprints found inside the bus were matched with those of the accused, placing them at the scene of the crime.

c. Blood and Hair Samples

●        The blood and hair of the victim and accused were found inside the bus, strengthening the evidence that the crime occurred there.

d. Medical and Post-Mortem Reports

●        Medical examinations revealed the extent of internal injuries, which confirmed the use of a blunt object (metal rod).

●        The autopsy confirmed that the injuries were consistent with the brutal description of the assault.

e. Digital and Mobile Forensics

●        The mobile phones of the accused were traced to the vicinity of the crime scene.

●        Call records and tower locations were used to verify their movements on the night of the crime.

f. Clothing Analysis

●        The clothes of the accused were stained with blood and bodily fluids, and tested positive for DNA matches with the victim.

All this forensic evidence played a vital role in establishing a clear timeline and the involvement of each accused person.

5. How Forensics Played a Role in Solving the Case

Forensic science provided irrefutable scientific evidence, which:

●        Corroborated witness testimonies (especially that of the male companion).

●        Linked the accused directly to the victim and the crime scene.

●        Confirmed the nature and tools of the assault, particularly the use of a metal rod.

●        Eliminated the possibility of false accusations or mistaken identity.

The swift collection and analysis of forensic samples helped the prosecution build a robust case in a relatively short period of time, leading to convictions despite the absence of any video footage of the crime itself.

6. Trial and Punishment

The trial was conducted in a fast-track court due to the severity and public importance of the case. Here's what followed:

●        Charges filed: Rape, murder, criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, robbery, and destruction of evidence.

●        Juvenile Accused: One of the six accused was a juvenile (under 18), and was tried under the Juvenile Justice Act. He received a three-year sentence in a juvenile home and was released in 2015, sparking public outrage.

●        Execution Date: March 20, 2020, at Tihar Jail, New Delhi.

7. Conclusion

The Nirbhaya case remains one of the most disturbing and consequential crimes in Indian history. The role of forensic science in this case highlighted how crucial scientific investigation is in modern law enforcement. It helped:

●        Solve the case quickly,

●        Eliminate doubts,

●        Ensure justice was served.

The case also led to:

●        The amendment of Indian rape laws (Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013),

●        The establishment of fast-track courts for rape cases,

●        Greater public awareness and pressure on authorities to act swiftly in cases of violence against women.

8. References

1. Justice Verma Committee Report (2013) – Recommendations on reforms in laws related to sexual violence.
2. Delhi Police Investigation Report (2013)
3. Supreme Court Judgement – Mukesh & Ors vs State for NCT of Delhi (2017)
4. Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) Reports
5. News Outlets:
• The Hindu
• Indian Express
• BBC News
• Times of India
6. NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) Data Reports

Written By: Ms. Sheenal Sharma, NIMS University Jaipur 

• Introduction 

The killing of 14-year-old Aarushi Talwar in Noida, India, was the most sensational and controversial criminal case in the nation. The tragic murder was soon transformed into a tangled web of accusations, faulty investigations, and dubious forensic results. This is an example of how delicate and important the forensic handling can be—and how its misuse can affect justice.

• Details of the Case

Aarushi Talwar was found murdered in her bed in her parents' Noida apartment, a satellite town of Delhi, on May 16, 2008, in the morning. Her throat was cut with surgical finesse, and she had a severe head injury as well. Hemraj, the 45-year-old Nepalese domestic help of the family, was the initial suspect and was missing from home. This situation was, however, ruined the next day when the body of Hemraj was discovered on the locked roof top of the Talwar house, with similar injuries.

The initial police investigation was criticized as incompetent. Incriminating forensic material was not found; family members and journalists who entered the house before it was sealed-off compromised the crime scene. Bloodstains, fingerprints, and other physical evidence were overlooked or photographed inadequately.

The absence of forced entry led to a hypothesis that it was an insider job. The parents,

Dr. Rajesh and Dr. Nupur Talwar, were also soon in the spotlight. The police began

making allegations that it was an "honour killing," which while speculated, was factually not supported.

In the midst of media scrutiny and public uproar, the case was seized by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). But the seizure did little to quiet the investigation. Over the course of several years, two CBI teams investigated the case, each proposing entirely conflicting theories. One suspected a group of servants, and the other suspected the Talwar couple themselves.

• Investigation Carried Out

To begin with, the Noida police got the major stages of the probe incorrect. The crime scene was not preserved, and key evidence was lost or tampered with. The inability to find Hemraj's body on the first day, given that it was on the terrace of the same building, reflected the degree of negligence.

When the case was transferred to the CBI, the case proceeded in two directions. The first set of people arrested Krishna, a compounder in Rajesh Talwar's dental clinic, and two other domestic staff members, Rajkumar and Vijay Mandal. Suspects were put through narco-analysis and polygraph tests, which pointed towards a probable group attack. The results of these tests were not admissible evidence in court and lacked corroborative physical evidence.

Subsequently, a second CBI team ruled out the servant theory and targeted the parents, speculating the murders were committed in a fit of rage after Dr. Rajesh Talwar supposedly caught Aarushi and Hemraj in an intimate act. This theory was largely circumstantial and based on opportunity and motive, but no direct forensic evidence implicated the Talwars.

• Forensic aspects of the case

The use of forensic science in the Aarushi-Hemraj case was extensive but inherently flawed. Forensic experts were called upon to visit the scene, analyze DNA tests, and determine the cause and timing of death. Since the crime scene had already been compromised at the onset, the accuracy of the majority of the findings was doubtful.

The autopsy of the two victims showed deep slashes characteristic of sharp-edge weapons. The weapons themselves, however, were never identified with certainty. The scalpel or khukri (curved blade) was one possibility, while others suspected a golf club was employed to inflict head damage. All these were speculative since no weapons were found with corresponding blood or DNA.

DNA evidence proved Hemraj's DNA was present on bloodspots in Aarushi's room.

This complicated the story further and suggested he had slept in Aarushi's room 

before being murdered or that he was somehow involved and was murdered. No foreign DNA samples or fingerprints were ever found, and lack of break-in into the house was used to build a circumstantial case against the Talwars.

Narco-analysis and polygraph tests of the in-situ staff indicated possible knowledge of the crime, but these were inadmissible in court and lacked forensic evidence. Moreover, important evidence such as the pillow cover stained with Hemraj's blood on another servant's bed was not tested or explained clearly in the latter half of the trial.

• How Forensic played a role in Solving of the Case

In theory, forensic science would have been the cornerstone of a double murder case. In the Aarushi case, however, forensic examination was undermined by poor control of the primary crime scene and contradictory interpretations of evidence. Nonetheless, forensic input did affect the narrative developed by the prosecution.

The absence of outsider DNA, the theory of single weapon use, and identical bloodstains were all utilized in the case for a killer in the house being the only one capable of committing the murders. None of these theories was backed by tangible physical evidence in the form of identical weapons or direct DNA on the suspect.

Rather than solving the case, the forensic testing illustrated the inadequacies of India's forensic systems and how assumptions can be dangerously overblown when scientific data is incomplete or misleading.

• Trial and Punishment

In 2011, the CBI had filed a closure report stating that there was nothing to prosecute anyone on, but the trial court rejected it and the Talwars were directed to stand trial. They were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2013. The conviction was largely on circumstantial evidence and prosecution assumptions, such as inference of character and lack of outside intervention.

The sentence was reversed by Allahabad High Court in 2017, stating that the evidence was not sufficient enough to give a guilty verdict. The courts condemned the investigation as incoherent and said that there was no evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.

•      Conclusion

The Aarushi Talwar case underlines the importance of meticulous forensic examination and unbiased investigation in criminal cases. It is a reminder of how things can take a wrong turn when scientific procedures are manipulated and public opinion takes the back seat over evidence-based logic. Aarushi and Hemraj's tragedy was compounded by a judicial system that seemed to let them down at each step.

Although the case remains technically open, it keeps on arousing controversy over the condition of forensic science in India and the need for legal reforms aimed at avoiding such miscarriages of justice in the future.

•      References

1.  CBI Court Judgement, Ghaziabad (2013)

2.  Allahabad High Court Judgement, 2017

3.  NDTV Archives: Timeline of Aarushi Talwar Case

4.  India Today (2017): Mishandling Investigation Analysis

5.  Bar & Bench Legal Review: Talwar Couple v. State of U.P. 

6.  Tehelka Magazine, Special Report on Aarushi Case 

7.  The Wire (2017): Media's Role in the Aarushi Case