Maharashtra Boosts Crime Detection with Surge to 59 Mobile Forensic Labs
State expands forensic fleet to revolutionize crime detection.
The Maharashtra government has expanded its fleet of mobile forensic laboratories from 21 to an impressive 59, reinforcing its position as a pioneer in scientific crime detection. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who inaugurated the country’s first set of 21 mobile forensic vans on January 27, has spearheaded this initiative to ensure faster, more accurate investigations across the state.
The expanded fleet now covers key urban centers and district police offices, with vans strategically stationed in Mumbai’s Chembur (East), Bandra (West), Kandivali (North), Byculla (Central), Nagpada (South), and the Railway Commissionerate. Additional units have been deployed in Navi Mumbai, Nagpur, Thane, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Amravati, and other districts, bringing the total to 59.
These state-of-the-art vehicles are equipped with advanced bio-chemical, chemical, biological, physical, and digital forensic tools, enabling on-the-spot evidence collection directly from crime scenes.
According to the Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratories (DFSL), these mobile units have already proven their worth, collecting 3,432 pieces of evidence across multiple cases statewide. The initiative has significantly reduced reliance on eyewitness accounts and preliminary testimony, which often delayed investigations. “The mobile forensic vans have brought unprecedented transparency and efficiency to evidence collection, accelerating the process of establishing criminal culpability,” an official release stated.
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As criminals adopt increasingly sophisticated methods, the state police face new challenges daily. Traditional investigations, heavily dependent on eyewitness accounts and limited DNA analysis, often struggled to keep pace. The mobile forensic labs address this gap by enabling comprehensive evidence collection at crime scenes, from biological traces to digital footprints, ensuring no clue is overlooked.
This expansion underscores Maharashtra’s commitment to modernizing its investigative framework. By integrating cutting-edge forensic technology, the state is setting a new standard for crime detection, ensuring swifter justice and greater accountability in the face of evolving criminal tactics.
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