Cops may seek another forensic test on Aaftab Poonawala | Latest News Delhi - Hindustan Times
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Cops may seek another forensic test on Aaftab Poonawala

Jan 24, 2023 12:24 PM IST

The BEOSP report is conducted with the consent of the accused, and is not admissible in court, but it has proved to be a supportive document in the trials of at least 200 criminals in different cases in India, a senior officer said.

The Delhi Police will conduct a neuropsychological test on Aaftab Poonawala, accused of murdering his girlfriend Shraddha Walkar, in order to establish his participation in the crime, senior officers aware of the matter said on Monday.

Currently, the Delhi Police have got forensic reports to establish that the human remains found at the instance of Poonawala were that of Walkar. (ANI) PREMIUM
Currently, the Delhi Police have got forensic reports to establish that the human remains found at the instance of Poonawala were that of Walkar. (ANI)

They said the findings of the Brain Electrical Oscillation Signature Profiling (BEOSP) test will help the police recognise and connect the “missing dots” in the gruesome murder case. Poonawala has already undergone the narco analysis and brain mapping tests in the case.

The BEOSP report is conducted with the consent of the accused, and is not admissible in court, but it has proved to be a supportive document in the trials of at least 200 criminals in different cases in India, a senior officer said. Narco analysis and brain mapping tests also do not hold any evidentiary value in the court.

An investigator said that BEOSP was developed in 2003 and is often used in “blind” murder cases or in those where only patchy details are known.

Also read: Shraddha Walkar murder: DNA tests, 55 witnesses, cell phone logs in police case

This technique will aid the investigation officer (IO) in identifying the missing link in the sequence of events, the officials aware of this case said.

Explaining the methodology, a senior officer of the Delhi Police said that BEOSP separates two neurocognitive processes -- knowing and remembering. During the test, the subject is made to wear a cap, to which several electrodes are connected, and is shown a series of pictures or made to hear audio clips. This is also known as an electroencephalogram (EEG) set up.

The electrodes gather the accused’s neurotic responses based on which the participation of the accused in the crime is established, the officer added.

“Response to auditory and visual probes is recorded through an EEG setup and reports get generated. After this test, we will get more conclusive and fool proof evidences against Poonawala, the only accused in this case,” he said.

Currently, the Delhi Police have got forensic reports to establish that the human remains found at the instance of Poonawala were that of Walkar. Another forensic analysis has also established that the marks on the bones found in south Delhi and Gurugram were consistent with the use of a saw. HT had reported that the Delhi Police found a saw at the Chhattarpur Pahadi flat in south Delhi, where Poonawala murdered Walkar in May last year, cut up the body into 35 pieces and disposed them of at several places over the course of three months.

When asked about the evidentiary value of BEOSP reports, the officer said the technique is currently employed by the forensic laboratories of Mumbai, Gandhinagar and Chandigarh. “Some other laboratories are also planning to start this test. Currently, approximately 300 subjects have undergone the BEOSP in cases in which the accused’s involvement was suspected. In some of those cases, judgments have also been obtained with the help of this technique. If the court permits us to conduct this test on the accused in Walkar’s murder case, it will certainly help the prosecution during the trial,” he added.

Former UP director general of police Vikram Singh also said that BEOSP is an important investigation tool and an excellent scientific aid to investigations, especially in blind murders and difficult cases. “It is a technology that is non-invasive, meaning that no chemical needs to be injected into the subject. But yes, the permission of the court is required before conducting this profiling. Nevertheless, Section 45 of the Indian Evidence Act allows and permits this as relevant evidence, and many courts have accepted it as valid proof since it is a very significant piece of evidence,” he said.

Also read: Malavika’s Mumbaistan: No country for young women

“However, it also requires corroborative evidence, which I am sure the investigators have in the form of DNA samples and DNA profiling that have come positive in this case,” he said.

Naveen Kumar, a professor with the psychology department of Delhi University, said that BEOSP is a good technique to identify the criminal behaviour when seen along with other evidence. “This technique involves the use of neurocognitive processing and it can be certainly corroborated with other contextual and emotional aspects of the crime. Knowing and remembering are considered two crucial components in any criminal activity and this tool is a meaningful technique to identify the criminal intent and act by a criminal. Connecting the dots and other circumstantial factors should be taken into account for conclusive results,” he said.

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    In his reporting career of over 20 years, Sanjeev K Jha has covered bureaucracy, politics, ISI activities in border areas, music and Bollywood. Presently, he covers crime in the national Capital.

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