GFSL lacked scientific application: SIT chief

SIT chief RR Verma has criticised the role of the Gujarat Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and Expert Board (EB) consisting of the officers of the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) and Central Forensic Science Laboratory.

Verma clearly stated that the Gujarat FSL and EB had not done their work properly and have lacked scientific application during the inquiry. Forensic, medical and scientific evidences are very critical in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case, he has said.

“Experts from FSL, Ahmedabad had visited the scene of the offence immediately after the incident. They had taken photographs and had guided the Investigation Officer (IO).

However, they did not follow scientifically correct procedures for lifting the exhibits, especially the empty cartridge cases and marking such positions clearly,” said Verma in the FIR.

In addition, Verma said, “They did not record the presence of several cartridge cases of 9mm ammunition at the scene of the offence and did not allow it be lifted and seized. Most importantly, they did not share the photographs of the scene of offence either with the IO. This is very significant because some of these photographs were clearly inconsistent with the version of the incident as per the FIR of DCB.”

It is pertinent to note that SIT member RR Verma had swooped down on the FSL office on March 3 this year and seized these photographs. The FSL officers also lodged a complaint against Verma for the incident.  The SIT had relied on EB but Verma was disappointed with their scientific probe.

The EB was constituted under the chairmanship of Dr TD Dogra, head of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of AIIMS and Dr Rajinder Singh, director of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL).  Regarding EB’s role, the FIR said,

“The EB’s limited work was to reconstruct the scene and represent it through animation or graphics and to clarify such doubts as may exist. However, EB’s work was not helpful because of lack of scientific application on many issues.”

FIR said, “The EB wrongly stated that the body of Amjad Ali was 20 feet behind the car whereas the record clearly mentioned it to be 12 feet. They also disregarded the recorded positions of the police officer while firing, and relied only on improved position that the police officers showed to the board.”