Practical No. 2

AIM: 

TO DEVELOP AND IDENTIFY LATENT FINGERPRINTS.

MATERIAL REQUIRED: 

1.      Sample – Glass

2.      Ostrich Brush

3.      Vermillion (Sindoor)

4.      Coffee Powder

5.      Transparent Tape

6.      Fingerprint Card (1-black Card & 1-white Card)

7.      Magnifying Glass

8.      Pen

9.      Gloves

THEORY:

A Fingerprint Is An Impression Left Behind By The Skin Found On The Inner Surface Of The Fingers. The Skin On This Area Is Called Friction Ridge Skin And Is Found On The Palms Of The Hands, As Well As On The Toes And Soles Of The Feet. They Have General Ridge Patterns, Making It Possible To Systematically Classify Them. It Is An Individual Characteristic; No Two Fingers Have Indentical Ridge Characteristic. An Individual’s Fingerprint Remains Unchanged During The Entire Lifetime.

The Three Basic Pattern Types Are – Arch, Loops And Whorls Are Sub Divided Into 9 Sub-types For The Purpose Of Classification.

PRINCIPLE:

The patterns present on these fingertips are unique to every individual. These patterns can be classified in order to develop class characteristics in the pattern. As well as individual characteristics can also be examined.

PROCEDURE:

OBSERVATIONS:

FORENSIC SIGNIFICANCE:

1.      Fingerprints are commonly found on the crime scenes.

2.      They can be easily lifted and developed.

3.      These have potential individual characteristic to identify people.

4.      Proper database is present for biometric matching, aadhar card records fingerprint data in india. Also commonly found in offices and universities.

PRECAUTIONS:

1.      Do not put exccesive powder on the print.

2.      Use soft bristle brush and do not rub the brush over the print.

3.      Always wear gloves while using the powders.

RESULT:

Written & Presented By:- 

Ms DIKSHA MEHRA

Member of AFRS

Practical – 01

Aim: To develop and identify lip prints. 

Material required:

1.      Blank white sheet

2.      Fluorescent powder

3.      Brush

4.      Gloves

5.      Magnifying glass

6.      Sample – “lips” 

Theory:

The study of lip prints is called cheiloscopy. It deals with the unique patterns present on the lips.  Human lips, are the soft, pinkish, moveable tissue present on the face. It act as a tactile sensory organ with no sweat glands present on it. The outline of the lips is called the vermillion border while the inner region is the vermillion zone. On this zone, the patterns are present.

In, 1902 an anthropologist named R. Fischer were the first to identify these patterns on the lips and called them, “arrangement of furrows”.  Later in 1932, Edmond Locard used lip prints as a means of personal identification. 

Principle:

The patterns present on these lips are unique to every individual. These patterns can be classified in order to develop class characteristics in the pattern. As well as individual characteristics can also be examined.

Procedure:

1.        Clean the lips of the person whose samples are to be TAKEN. Let them dry at room temperature.

2.        Take a white paper of about 15cm*8cm. fold the paper INTO half horizontally.

3.        Now place this paper from fold side in between the lips of the person.

4.        Ask the person to slowly close the lips and let them completely fall on the paper, without moving.

5.        After 30 seconds, let the person open his lips softly just apart. Now remove the paper and unfold it on a board.

6.        Let the prints at room temperature in shade.

7.        Once dried, take some fluorescent powder by the brush and lightly tap on the prints. With a soft ostrich brush one can spread powder in contact with the print on the paper surface.

8.        Examine the developed the prints with the help of a magnifying glass.

9.        Identify the pattern present. 

Lip Print Types: 

In 1960-67, Dr. Santoz gave the first classification of lip prints – 

S.NO.	PATTERN OBSERVED	PATTERN NAME
1.	__________________	STRAIGHT LINE
2.		CURVED LINE
3.		ANGLED LINE
4.	~~~~~~~~~~~~~	SINE SHAPED

In 1971, Suzuki Ans Tsuchihashi gave another classification for lip prints. This classification is used till now. 

Observation: 

The lip patterns were observed. 

Pattern – few longitudinal incomplete straight lines.

Forensic Significance:

1.      Lip prints are commonly found on the crime scenes for crimes such as sexual assault, rape, death by poison, kidnapping etc.

2.      They can be easily lifted and developed.

3.      These have potential individual characteristic to identify people.

Precautions:

1.      Avoid excessive moisture on lips while taking samples.

2.      Do not pull the paper swiftly from the lips.

3.      Florescent powders are carcinogenic in nature hence, use gloves and mask.

Result:

The pattern identified is Type 1’. 

Terms & Conditions:

1.  This pdf is only for practical purposes.

2.  The pdf does not support any academic usage.

3.  The content must not be copy-pasted anywhere.

4.  The content is involved only for theoretical and practical knowledge.ons:

Written & Presented By:- 

Diksha Mehra

Member of AFRS

We hope all the participants including our winners that you found your hidden talent, and once again thank you for taking part in this competition, we wish Good luck to all.

Date: 12-05-202

In the Matter of: XYZ Vs Maharashtra

Subject:

Case Enquiry/ DD/ FIR no.: 11

Officer name and details handing over the evidence: Mr. ABC (ACP, Churchgate Police Station) Summary of the case:

It was a case of video verification of the CCTV footage which was from the GMC Boys Hostel, Churchgate, Mumbai dated 17^th April 2016 when the case was investigated. During the night time, there few of the boys who broke the lock of one of the rooms and stole a laptop from the hostelite staying in that room who had gone for the vacation to his hometown. In spite knowing that the area was under CCTV surveillance, they even tampered footage which got captured during that time. When that victim came back and noticed, he informed to the warden, but the warden after checking the footage as had no knowledge that the footage might even get tampered, he denied the complaint of the victim. the warden was giving justification to the victim that, the area is under surveillance and know one is allowed to enter in to the control room; but had no idea that those suspected boys had given bribe to the watchman and took the keys of the control room to tamper the footage. The boy then just requested the warden to give him the footage of that three nights as he wasn’t there for three nights, took a signature from him on a letter that the warden has no issue for handing over the footage to that victim.

Later, the victim registered a FIR in the nearest police station, where Mr. ABC (ACP,

Churchgate Police Station) requested me to investigate the footage in this purpose. Therefore, on Monday 9^th May 2022, I have received a Video File named “Sample 1.mp4” from Mr. ABC through a Google drive link via Email to check the authenticity of the video file which consisted of CCTV footage. With the standard practices and use of software’s, the video file was thoroughly examined to check is the received video file had any manipulations such as addition, deletion or alteration so as to provide the complainant with thorough forensic report of Video verification.

     Detailed report of the Video file examined: 

Receiving mode                               : Google Drive link via Email

File name                                         : Sample 1.mp4

Video file duration                          : 00:01:38 hours

Modified date                                  : 17^th April 2016 at 21:15:16 PM 

Size of the file                                 : 21.4 MB (2,25,30,910 bytes) 

Size on Disk                                    : 21.4 MB (2,25,36,192 bytes)

Workstation Specification: DELL Precision, Windows 10 (x64), Intel CORE i3.

Software’s used for Examination                      : Video Pad, HashCalc

 One can examine various characteristics of the video recording using an video analyser to determine whether the evidence is altered or not. In this its required to check the integrity of the recording and also to determine whether requested file of examination is has tempered or genuine content. As per the steps of analysing any video file, the requested file was critically viewed many times to check its continuity to examine whether there is any sign of alteration in the file. To confirm the continuity the file was analysed using video analysers.

In following steps the authenticity of the received file was examined.

➢ Physical Handling & Inspection: I checked for the properties of the received video recording with its different general characters. Properties of the file:

Screenshot of video file “Sample 1.mp4” with total recording length 00:01:38 hours.

➢ To examine the Continuity in frame coordinates of the video recording: 

Examination of the signals and frame coordinates and time lag of the video recording confirms the integrity of the video clip. During this examination it was found that there is alteration and tempering in the video file which indicates that there is change in the frame rate or length of the recording. Screenshot of the video file showing frame is as follows:    

Gap found between the frame of the video file “Sample 2.MTS” at “17 s”

➢ To examine enhancement of the recording:

There was no consistency in the contrast, brightness or variation in colour during the entire section of the recording as it is a CCTV footage so there was change in different CCTV coverages. Sign of alteration or traces like irregular variations in the frames rates was observed through entire recording section of the video file marking the file as tempered video recording. 

The first tempering was observed at 00:00:17 hours as shown in the screenshot above. Change of CCTV coverage was found at “00:00:45 hours” where suddenly the time and date is observed of the footage i.e. date as 15/04/2016 and time at 01:57:23 am & again at 00:01:26 hours the CCTV coverage recording was changed to another camera footage. 

Screenshot of the Change in CCTV Coverage of video recording “Sample 1.mp4"

Screenshot of the Change in CCTV Coverage of video recording “Sample 1.mp4” ➢ To examine the audio of the file: No audio for examination. 

Nature of the examination and test conducted:

Video Verification is a scientific examination, comparison and/or evaluation of video files in legal matters. For this there are types of video forensic scientists like technicians (who carry out preliminary examination such as calculation of metadata, hash value), Analyst (who analyse video with the help of software), Expert ( who deals with presenting Report for court proceedings).

Several video recorders are used for evidences like CCTV DVR (Closed circuit television digital video recorder), CCTV NVR (Closed circuit television network video recorder), MDVR (Mobile Digital Video Recorder), Body Camera, Concealed Camera, Mobile Phone, Police Dash-cam.

Digital video evidence is most commonly created by passive & active recording systems. A passive recording system is a recording system that doesn’t store information in its memory system whereas active recording system stores information in its memory system. Active recording systems are most commonly produced with a digital storage medium such as HDD, SSD, or volatile (Flash) memory. Video recorders create digital video recordings in the following types of formats:

•      Open Source Format

•      Proprietary Format

•      Courtroom Ready Format

Acquisition of Video evidence has to be according to the protocols created by community SWGDE. It is conducted in different steps as follows: 

•      Establish the Chain of Custody

•      Request for the original

The authenticity of the video file is questionable in the court like various other types of evidence. In order to provide the video recording as evidence, its authenticity must be confirmed by the expert so that the court can be convinced to accept the evidence. 

To check the authenticity of the file, the lab investigation of the video file includes numerous things:

•      Forensic Image Comparison Investigation: This is the process of comparing digital images, or digital images extracted from the video recordings to determine the probability that the people or objects depicted in these images are same or different. 

•      Video Clarification/Enhancement: In this we enhance the scaling/pixel interpolation, Sharpening, Warp Stabilization, shadow & Highlight adjustments (Exposure), Speed reduction, Pixel aspect ratio calibration, colour correction, etc.

•      Video Analysis/Authentication: The analysis of recording is performed by keeping all the methodology & steps into consideration. The analysis of the video recording is done in various steps which are as follows: 

o   Viewing the recording – to familiarize with the video o Enhancement – Sharpening, video stabilization, masking, interlacing o Video inspection – (if the video quality is good) to check coding, video content analyser, AviSynth, AvsPinod

o   Audio inspection – by extracting audio from the video for audio verification

Audio Verification is a scientific interpretation of audio recordings which are obtained from a civil investigation or criminal legal proceedings. It is prevalent in the investigation of crimes such as: Terrorism, Extortion, Intimidation, etc.

There are several types of digital evidences received in the case of audio verification such as Mobile Phones, External Storage Media (USB drive, Hard drive, Memory Card), Optical Media (CD, DVD), Laptops, etc. 

For examination of the authenticity of the audio-video recording, it can be done through Hash value by utilising the metadata of the file, where several tools can be used for the authentication of hash value like Checksum, HashCalc, Digestit and tools like Exinfinto and metadata 2go for authentication of metadata information. For the Hash value, when we add or delete something from file, Hash value changes otherwise it remains the same if the file data is not altered in any manner. 

To analysis any audio-video file an expert needs to go through some steps. He/she need to do critical listening/viewing the recording at first step to get familiarised with the audio & video. Then carry out the enhancement of the file by checking for the frequency equalisation and then go for electronic inspection and visual inspection in which one is expected to visualise the pattern of the continuous waveforms. Once the analysis of hash value, metadata, critical listening, viewing recording, enhancement, etc. is done it is evident enough to evaluate whether the analysed audio-video file is manipulated or not. And in this manner, audio-video verification helps us to check the authenticity, enhance the speech of the file, etc. and give the report on the requested examination.

         Opinion: 

After thorough examination of the file named Sample 1.mp4, the recording presented that the video frames had presence of gap at 17s and change in CCTV footages and during analysis, there was a sign of tempering found in the video file. The video file presented to be had manipulations in it. 

Therefore, on the basis of my examination of the received video file, I had formed an opinion that the video file was not a genuine one. This prepared report was then submitted to Mr. ABC for further investigation to prove the guilty person and give justice to the victim. 

Written and Examine BY: 

Ms. Sanchita Aher,

AFRS volunteer,

Institute of Forensic Science, Mumbai.

FORENSIC REPORT

Date: 12/05/2022

In the Matter of: uthara vs kerala

Subject: Kerala snakebite murder

Case Enquiry/ DD/ FIR no.: 0204/2021

Officer name and details handing over the evidence: 

PW71 Dr. Sasikala, the Head of Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, PW63 Dr. Kishore Kumar, the Veterinary Surgeon of Animal Husbandry Department, PW19 Mavish Kumar, and PW51 Muhammed Anwar, conducted a detailed on the spot study of the circumstances and submitted Ext P21, report. PW52 Vava Suresh has also testified regarding the behaviour of Cobra and Viper snakes.

Summary of the case:

The Kerala snakebite murder was a unique case in which Uthra, a twenty-five-year-old lady, was killed by a snakebite while she was sleeping on May 7, 2020. She was at her parents' house in Anchal, Kerala, in South india

Uthra was a differently-abled young housewife with a one-year-old son. She had been married for two years. Uthra was healing from a previous Russell's viper bite, which she had received two months before at her husband's home near Adoor, and was staying with her parents while she recovered. She was bedridden for 52 days as a result of the viper bite, and she had to undergo plastic surgery to heal the damage

When her mother came to summon her in the morning, she was found unconscious in her bedroom at her parents' house. She had apparently been bitten by a snake during the night of May 6, 2020. The next day, Uthra died 7 may 2020 A huge Indian cobra was discovered in her and her husband's bedroom.

Uthra's mother, Manimegalai, claims that she, her daughter, and Sooraj went to bed after dinner. Sooraj, who is generally a late riser, awoke unusually early the next morning and walked outside. Uthra, on the other hand, did not wake up at her customary time. Uthra was found unconscious in her room by her mother. The room was later examined, and the snake was found and killed.

Detailed report of the Evidence examined:

To prove that Uthra died of a deliberate snakebite, the investigative team gathered evidence and brought in experts from several professions, including snake catchers.

"Normally, 150-centimetre-long cobras can cause wounds that are 1.7 cm deep, but the lesions in the Uthra snakebite case were 2.3 cm and 2.8 cm deep." The cops later discovered that applying external pressure on the snake's head can enhance the wound depth. Sooraj scoured YouTube for information on viper and cobra behaviour, according to the investigating team. This was a  piece of proof.

"It was a challenging case." However, the investigators worked hard to examine forensic medicine, cyber data, animal DNA, and other evidence. This was one of the few instances in which an accused was declared guilty only on the basis of circumstantial evidence.

Sooraj's elaborate plan to assassinate Uthra included using a cobra. He had killed her with a viper a few months before employing a cobra to murder her in May 2020. She had been bitten by a viper at Sooraj's residence, but she was well. Uthra's parents filed a police report after suspecting foul play, and the case was eventually solved.

Nature of examination and test conducted: 

The dummy experiment was carried out by a police team lead by a former rural SP in July of last year. The one-of-a-kind experiment was carried out since every piece of evidence was vital in the case. The experiment was carried out at the Forest Department's State Training Institute. The court received video footage of the experiment as well as paperwork from the police team. The cops utilised a fake that weighed the same as Uthra. A slice of chicken was connected to the dummy's hand in this experiment. The snake was made to bite the meat in order to determine the depth of the wound. This procedure could explain the difference between a wound generated by a natural snakebite and a wound caused when the snake is forced to bite the victim.

Opinion: 

The motivation was monetary. Sooraj would have lost the dowry and rights to her property if he divorced Uthra or got rid of her in any other way. As a result, he devised a scheme to make her death appear natural.

Examine And Written BY:

Ms.  Sneha