Latest news with #RegionalForensicScienceLaboratory
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
54% conviction rate good but state should reach 90%: CM Fadnavis
Nagpur: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the state has improved the conviction rate from just 9% in 2013 to the current 54%. "However, it should ideally be above 90%, a benchmark of a developed economy," said the CM during the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) here on Sunday. "Fifty-four per cent is good for a developing economy, but we are now heading towards becoming a developed economy for which a 90% conviction rate is ideal," he said. Fadnavis stressed on reducing the number of pending cases and maintaining the cycle of the regular ones. He also praised the forensic department for putting in extra hours. "We appreciate the forensic department's staff working four extra hours daily and also on Saturdays to eliminate pendency. The output of the forensic department also improved by 22% in 2024 compared to the year before," he said. Adding that the forensic department has witnessed a sea change after the passing of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and two other laws, Fadnavis said that now we have a 'techno-assisted' criminal justice system, unlike the bio-assisted system of the past. "Technical evidence does not turn hostile, unlike human evidence," he said. Fadnavis suggested that the forensic department should overcome manpower shortage with outsourcing and putting in additional man-hours to help in bringing down the pendency rate by at least 60%. "The three new legislations brought about by the central govt do not allow the defence to adjourn the hearing by more than two days. Ensure the trial doesn't get affected due to delays in the forensic reports," Fadnavis directed the forensic department. The CM added that Maharashtra is now witnessing unprecedented promptness in expediting cases related to atrocities against women, where courts have handed over convictions within seven days after the registration of the crime. Fadnavis urged the forensic department to shift its database to blockchain technology for higher security and tamper-proof systems. He also asked the forensic department to ensure that reporting is expedited in sensitive cases while ensuring the cycles of the regular and legacy cases are not thrown out of gear. Fadnavis highlighted the setting up of a cyber corporation in Mumbai, whose advanced systems are now attracting other states and countries. "We are now being invited to help other states and even countries to set up cyber technology on par with Maharashtra," said the CM. The new seven-storey building of the state-of-the-art modern forensic science laboratory will be built at Rahate Colony. Ramtek MP Shyamkumar Barve, MoS Pankaj Bhoyar, DGP (legal and technical) Sanjay Kumar Verma, managing director of Police Housing and Welfare Corporation Limited, Archana Tyagi, and director of the forensic department, Dr Vijay Thakare, were also present on the occasion.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Anti-urban Maoism bill opposed by those backing extremism: CM
Nagpur: Urban Maoism is a well-planned "strategic change" to bring anarchy and Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, recently cleared by the state legislature, would be used to tackle this threat, said CM Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday. "Those who are opposing the bill are the ones who seem to be championing left-wing extremism and its mandate," he said. Asserting that urban Maoism is "slowly poisoning cities", he also hinted that those opposing the bill are the ones lending support to augment the ideology of left-wing extremism. In response to a query, the CM said after realising that their forest-based cadres were fast depleting, Maoist guerrillas conceptualised the insidious insurgency in cities. "The Maoist mandate is to infiltrate the democratic setup, organisations, colleges, universities and other govt bodies to replace the constitutional framework with their planned anarchy," he told reporters at the inauguration of the new administrative building of Regional Forensic Science Laboratory in Nagpur. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Fadnavis said Maoist think tanks have created "urban cadres". "These urban Maoists are faceless, unlike their forest-based cadres with weaponry in their hands. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Almere: De waarde van je huis is openbaar! (Klik om te kijken) Smartfinancetips Undo They are gradually deteriorating our democratic systems governed by constitutional policies," he said. Fadnavis said the security setup would track down infiltrators in the urban theatre and act against them. "We have now brought a bill to act against them and there would be strict enforcement of the new law of the land," he said. Taking a potshot at the opposition, which has claimed that its suggestions as part of a joint select committee of 25 legislators were accepted orally but were missing from the bill, Fadnavis said it was duly passed after debates in both Houses and scrutiny by the committee, adding that its suggestions and 12,000 other inputs were incorporated. "Anyone who has gone through the bill would seldom oppose it. The bill nowhere deters anyone from voicing opinions, speaking against govt, undertaking any protest or agitation, or even writing against the system," he said. Fadnavis also said that the bill does not permit direct action against any individual before an organisation is banned. "In other laws, we first arrest and then the individual is brought before the court. According to the bill, the proposal to ban an organisation would first be scrutinised by a judicial system comprising judges and prosecutors. If they approve the ban, only then can members of the organisation can be acted upon," he said, adding that the bill also has a provision for appeal within 30 days before high court.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Time of India
Fadnavis to lay foundation for hi-tech RFSL building today
1 2 3 Nagpur: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will lay the foundation for a new Rs128 crore state-of-the-art Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) to be built over two acre at Rahate Colony on Sunday. A dedicated floor will focus exclusively on analysing cases related to atrocities against women. The current facility houses 10 specialised units for analysing rape and Pocso cases and a proposal to enhance the lab's capacity has already been submitted to the govt. The project faced nearly seven years of delay. Envisioned in 2018 by Dr Vijay Thakare, director of state forensic science department, the modern RFSL will become fully operational by 2027. The Maharashtra State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation is overseeing the construction, with supervision from Thakare and Sanjay Kumar Verma, director general of police (legal and technical). Their expertise ensures the project aligns with the state's vision for advanced forensic capabilities, said a source. The new facility will have dedicated floors for specialised units, including anti-corruption cases focusing on tape authentication and speaker identification (TASI). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Benefits of Trading Bitcoin CFDs IC Markets Learn More Undo Another floor will be devoted to cybercrime investigation, equipped with an advanced cyber lab to tackle the growing challenge of digital offences. The new RFSL will have cutting-edge features such as bio-cladding for hygienic walls, anti-static flooring to prevent equipment interference, and an anti-humidifier unit to maintain fresh, odour-free air. Powered by solar panels, the facility emphasises sustainability and reduce carbon footprint. The RFSL complex will also include two residential units, accommodating 45 families of forensic experts and staff. This provision ensures round-the-clock access, enabling seamless operation and faster case processing.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Time of India
Labourer found dead in Chimpu
Itanagar: A 22-year-old labourer was found dead near an under-construction building here, police said on Thursday, reports Joken Ete. The body of Prabash Doley was found close to a petrol pump at Chimpu near here on Wednesday night, Capital SP Rohit Rajbir Singh said. Doley, a native of Misamora village in Assam's Dhemaji district, was temporarily residing in Sood village in Naharlagun. Following a written complaint lodged by the victim's uncle, Nandeswar Doley, police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The accused, Tai John (26), hailing from Rakso village in Kra Dadi district was arrested from his home located opposite the crime scene. A forensic team from the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory at Banderdewa inspected the crime scene. Several pieces of biological and physical evidence, including the suspected murder weapon and blood-stained items, were collected.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Time of India
Ganja seized at Nagpur airport hydroponic weed?
Nagpur: The 10 kg high-standard marijuana (ganja) consignment intercepted at the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur on Saturday could be the first top-quality 'hydroponic' variety, sources said. It was grown in a controlled environment with water and nutrient surplus conditions, which the cops are now keen to ascertain from the experts. Zonal DCP Lohit Matani said the samples would be sent to the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) to ascertain its quality. "We would seek reports from the narcotics experts of the forensic laboratory to know if the intercepted ganja was hydroponic weed," he said. While the cost of the intercepted variety was calculated at Rs20,000 per kg, the worth of the seizure would skyrocket to Rs8-10 crores if it turns out to be hydroponic weed. Across several airports in India this year, substantial amounts of the hydroponic variety of marijuana were intercepted from foreign nationals. Sources stated the regular quality of marijuana would unlikely be sent through air parcels spending high amounts. "The air routes are generally used when the cost of the consignment is high, or else sending the regular variety through air cargo is impractical financially," said a source.
