478 FSL posts vacant, analysis of 1,825 POCSO case samples pending

More than 1,265 samples related to rape cases are pending with the FSL. Representation Pic

The acute shortage of staff at the state Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has led to massive pendency of sensitive cases. According to government data, as of January, 1,825 samples in connection with Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act cases while 1,265 samples related to rape cases are pending with the FSL, which has 13 units across the state. The facility has played a vital role in the detection of crime in Maharashtra ever since the 1993 serial blasts occurred. However, except for highly sensitive cases, the pendency of the cases that require its expertise varies from a minimum of six months to years.

During the ongoing monsoon session, Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in response to a question in Assembly, said that as of May, 478 posts are vacant in the FSL across the state. He added that the process to fill the posts was ongoing and 525 posts would be filled on a contractual basis.

The delay in analysis and report has left family members of the victims and deceased waiting for years for justice. On the night of December 2, 2021, 24-year-old Manav Lalwani allegedly hanged himself on the terrace of his residence in Deonar. He had eaten dinner with a female friend before taking the extreme step.

The Trombay police filed an accidental death report (ADR) in connection with the incident and seized Lalwani and his friends' mobile phones and sent them to the FSL for the retrieval of WhatsApp chats and pictures. "It's been almost two years. I am still waiting for a report from the FSL, which is my last hope as the cops' investigation hasn't revealed anything. I hope the deleted messages will lead to some sort of justice," said the deceased's father, Prakash.

In a recent case, Deepak Shah, 45, and his wife Tina, 39, were found dead inside the bathroom of their flat a day after celebrating Holi in March. Viscera and other samples were sent to FSL to ascertain what led to the mysterious death of the duo. However, no reports have been received from the lab. "We are awaiting the FSL report to find out what exactly caused the deaths. We have to rule out foul play but reports are still awaited," said an officer from Pant Nagar police station.

Raju Pahalajani, brother of slain gangster Naresh Chaddi, said, "My brother was murdered in January 2016 and the FSL sent its report to the Thane police after four long years in December 2019. We had been telling the cops since day one that my brother was killed but the cops were in a hurry to wrap up the matter by filing an ADR. And, despite the forensic report confirming that the death was unnatural, the Thane police took another two months to register an FIR against Ulhasnagar muscleman Godhumal Kishnani, his son Pravin and domestic help under Section 302. If mid-day had not followed up the crucial development rigorously, the cops would not have succumbed to the pressure."

HM Speak

Fadnavis told the legislature that the government would never hire the police personnel on a contractual basis, but said the proposed hiring of personnel from the government-owned state security corporation was only a temporary arrangement for Mumbai, and the staff hired would not be given work related to crime investigation and law enforcement. The home department had unofficially given a statement about the proposal which was criticised on Tuesday. He said the city police had 10,000 vacancies because of superannuation, inter-district transfers and untimely deaths.

"The Mumbai police will get 7,076 personnel in about two years through a regular recruitment process. Till then, 3,000 personnel, who are fully trained, will be made available for 11 months. They will be given static duties like security and guard jobs. These personnel have been regularly working at government offices, commercial establishments, and public places," he said.

13
No of FSL units in state

Inputs by Dharmendra Jore