News from Crime/Criminology/Investigation

Hardly any forensic experts out there!

There are hardly many forensic documents and fingerprints examiner in the ages where there are many frauds, with not much encouragement from academic, government and law enforcement authority, the cases of fraud and their number might increase, there is also need to create awareness among public.

L.Raghunanda

4^th Estate

Not many forensic documents examiner, fingerprints examiner, with every kind of transaction taking place, the authenticity is questioned, there are legal battle fought, So the cry among the fraternity be it legal and public at large is that state need to have more of the forensic experts be it document or finger print examiner, but not there.

Government, academia at large must set up more of institution in this lines, as of now only two university has affiliated forensic science department in the state

The forensic department set up at Dharwad University is dysfunctional because of lack of staff, while in Mysore University, though the department is continuing with mere support from Syndicate, not many students being enrolled.te one being Mysore University and other being Dharwad University.

“Every state need to have Forensic Science Laboratory, and Karnataka has one such located in Kormangala, but it will look into the cases only directed by government machinery, and many time the cases takes quite long time,

“And not many examiner so to say, there are only few working experts one is Mr Ashwatappa, and other Ms Jayadevi, while Jayadevi is not active as of now, Ashwatappa is retired forensic document examiner and previously working under Forensic Science Laboratory, now takes only few of the cases. says B.R Phaneendar Forensic documents and Fingerprints examiner, and who runs consultant in this regard known as Graphotek Consultants Pvt Ltd, Bangalore

Phaneendar says the “Graphotek Consultants to which many cases comes nearly eight to ten cases all forensic science related cases, we were stunned, then we came to know that not many of them forensic experts available.

He further added “ And most of the cases that come are the bank frauds, real estate property cases, while many loopholes are best cashed by fraudster, because to get the property or to get money, the easiest way available is to getmanipulation of document easily either by forgeries, document physical and chemical alteration, intended writings etc.

According to the data compiled by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the money lost to such scams has doubled in the past four years. In year 2010 financial year, banks lost Rs 2,289 crore.

Private banks in the country like ICICI, HSBC, American Express, Citibank , lost the most of money due to fraud, and most of the fraud cases was related to loan secured to get housing loan, property and document was forged, duplicated,

Phaneendra noted one such case in the city among the several one that had resulted when real estate business was in boom two years ago in the city, where a Union bank’s enquiry let to finding where a person named Sadashiva Murthy (whose real name was changed) bought three flats in the same apartment complex and sold to multiple buyers, and loans were taken from several banks for purpose, later bank manager came to know about it and he lodged complaint in Malleswaram police.

“Banks as one of the financial institution are losing in heavy terms in fraud cases, and this is because they don’t verify documents, even then the culprit known how to deceive and the banks doesn’ t have expert forensic document examiner or fingerprint expert” says Phannendra.

When asked about the availability of technology as to avoid fraud cases that result from various kind of duplication and forgeries he said “ One’s where monetary , legal aspect isweighted heavily forensic examination, deciphering, cross examination of document holds very important.

“Also now there are many technologies available so as to find the culprit and bring to books,while some methods as to examine and identify are for ages used, as to use of magnification using magnifying lenses.

“But for identifying earlier hidden writings, differentiating inks used in the same document, for all this and computer and document scanner are used

“There is need to create awareness among the financial institution and public about how documents can be duplicated, to be careful about the fraudster lurking next to you” said Phannendra when asked about the what needs to be done in this regard to put end to menance.