Forensic lab can’t keep up with ‘corrupt’ babus

MUMBAI: A short-staffed Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) at Kalina is struggling to effectively handle the number of corruption cases forwarded to it by the state Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), which has been working on overdrive this year to book corrupt government servants.

 

The ACB, which registered 1,053 bribery cases till November 11, has forwarded all of them to the FSL for forensic reports.

The ACB requires electronic surveillance as proof in bribery cases. As the FSL is short-staffed, speedy analysis is not possible, causing reports to be delivered late.

A forensic test takes at least eight days to be processed, following which a report is prepared. The Kalina FSL conducts various tests, such as Tape Authentication and Speaker Identification (TASI), DNA, toxicology, biology and ballistics.

FSL sources said the highest number of pending cases is for TASI. Around 1,600 such cases forwarded to FSL from ACB over the past two years are pending. This is attributed to the fact that of the total six FSLS across the state, only the one at Kalina has the facilities for the test.

Sources said there are only

eight officers and three assistants in the department to conduct TASI in FSL, with 52 posts in the department lying vacant.

“For TASI, the FSL examines the voice recording of conversations between the accused and the complainant. It is necessary to provide a detailed report, describing events before the ACB laid a trap, and events during and after arrest. However, the FSL report in most bribery cases is secondary evidence,” said MK Malve, director at FSL, Kalina.

While numbers of corruption cases have risen, the FSL is not equipped to handle such large numbers. “Earlier, around 40 corruption cases were sent to us every year, but the numbers have increased to 100 in the last one-and-half years,” said Malve.

Many important cases have reached FSL. “Some cases are sent on priority basis. The report for the case in which 35 policemen were caught taking bribe was submitted in two months,” said Malve. MUMBAI: Central Railway’s (CR) revised suburban timetable effective from Saturday, has both good news and bad news for commuters on the main line

The good news is that there is relief for commuters travel ling to Badlapur, Ambernath Kalyan, Karjat and Asagaon with CR extending the frequency of services beyond Thane.

In addition, all fast trains will cover the Cst-kalyan stretch two minutes quicker than earlier and the Kalyan-karjat, Kalyan Kasara stretches four and five minutes faster respectively.

CR has also announced four additional services for Kalyan Karjat and Khopoli.

“Currently, there are 51 trains operating between Cst-kurla During peak hours also these trains are reasonably vacant, so this capacity can be utilised to accommodate other passengers by extending the trains,” said a CR official.

The bad news is that the last train from CST will depart at 12.30am, as opposed to 12.38am at present while the departure of the first local will be seven minutes later.

The total number of trains will remain the same but four late-night services from CST have been cancelled.