FSLu00a0scientists will start work on evidence collected from Dey's body only from tomorrow; lab says cops gave them samples, post-mortem report and X-ray late
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Due to a shocking display of laxity by investigative experts in the city, the sleuthing procedure for MiD DAY crime reporter J Dey's murder case has been set back by an inordinate duration.


The evidence submitted include viscera and blood samples, clothes worn by Dey, bullets recovered from his body, and skin samples from the wounds

By the time the forensics scientists at the state Forensic Science Lab (FSL), Kalina, begin their scientific examination, the clock will have timed 120 hours since the shooting.

FSL scientists say that they only received part samples on Monday evening, between 4.30 and 5.30 pm, approximately 50 hours after the crime was committed.

These samples included viscera, blood samples, clothes worn by Dey, bullets recovered from his body, and skin samples from the wounds.

Moreover, the X-ray and post mortem report were not submitted along with the samples, as is customary, and had to be specifically asked for.

Police officials only delivered the requested reports last evening at around 4 pm. By then, the clock had timed approximately 63 hours since the brutal crime.
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The samples will only be taken out for routine procedural entries tomorrow, about 86 hours after the shooting, and scientists will commence scientific and microscopic investigations as late as Thursday, nearly 120 hours after Dey's death.

Domino effect
In a domino effect, this delay will inadvertently result in further delay of investigation.

Had the samples been sent promptly on Sunday, and been accepted by the FSL on the same day, police officials and other investigative agencies could have looked for other vital clues from the scene of crime, based on inputs from FSL.

All in all, investigations have been delayed for the inordinate duration of 120 hours, which have been spent by forensic and police experts procrastinating, citing holidays, or on the mere execution of formalities.

Forensic surgeons at the Department of Forensics Study, Grant Medical college, affiliated to the JJ Group of hospitals, who conducted the autopsy on Dey, have informed MiD DAY that they handed over samples of the viscera and bullets recovered from Dey's body to the police on the very night following his death, with explicit instructions that they be submitted at the earliest to FSL, Kalina.

The inordinate delay throws into question the earnestness of government officials, who have repeatedly been claiming that Dey's case is high priority for them, and that they would be leaving no stone unturned to nab the criminals.

Forensic officials have also questioned why the samples had not been delivered promptly, considering the case was a high-profile one.


Had the samples been sent promptly on Sunday and been accepted by the Forensics Science Lab on
the same day, police officials and other investigative agencies could have looked for other vital clues from the scene of crime

Dr Rukmini Krishnamurthy, former director of FSL and presently Technical Advisor to the Institute of Forensics Science, admitted, "In cases like this involving heinous crimes, physical evidence plays a crucial role in the investigation procedure, providing relevant leads.
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All investigative agencies should be on duty 24 hours after the crime has been committed; no considerations should be made for holidays, or late office hours, when it comes to forwarding the analysis procedure.

It is equally important for investigating officers in such crucial cases to deliver all important documents and articles on time, so that scientists can proceed with the investigation."

She further added, "FSL has worked during holidays in the past, executing viscera examination so as to give reports promptly."

The Other Side
Dr M V Gard, FSL director was not available for comment. A senior forensic scientist with FSL told MiD DAY, "Unless we are informed specifically to accept samples on a non-working day, we do not collect samples.
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The FSL remains closed on the second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays of every month. Moreover, it is the police who have to bring the samples to us, after which we can start our work.
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We assure you that we will be taking this case on priority basis and submit our findings shortly."