16-08-2018

Welcome
To
The Department of Chemistry

Forensic Chemistry
Subject Code: CHY1004
Class No.- 1161 / 1174

Name of Faculty: Dr. Manoj Acharya

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 Syllabus

 Schedule of Instruction

 Evaluation Pattern

 Time Table

 Module -1

Module Description
Module Description
I Basics of forensic chemistry
Introduction to forensic chemistry - the flow of a forensic analysis,
forensic chemistry today- Historical evidences – first forensic
testimony. Metrology and measurements, Significant Figures,
Rounding, and Uncertainty, Accuracy, Precision and Errors - types
of analytical error, Sampling - sample preparation and screening.
Expanding the scope of forensic chemistry.
Tutorial: Forensic analysis of popular case studies – Historical
evidences.
II Instrumentation – Forensic analysis
Chemical microscope, Spectroscopy – basics – Fourier Transform-
Infrared (FT-IR), Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis), Raman, mass
spectrometry. Elemental analysis – X-ray fluorescence (XRF),
powder X-ray techniques (PXRD). Gas Chromatography (GC), and
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) – SEM- EDAX.
Tutorial: Instrumentation analysis of forensic samples

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Module Description
Module Description
III Physical evidences: Inks, paints, paper and finger marks
Inks and paints: Composition, chemistry, forensic analysis -
analytical methods – solubility test, TLC and chemical test
(diphenylamine spot test for paints), aging and dating. Paper:
Basics - forensic analysis - differential staining analysis - Herzberg’s
and Jenk’s stain. Latent finger print analysis: Sources of latent
fingermark residue - aqueous and lipid components, sources of
compositional variation. Chemical processing of latent fingermarks
– amino acid sensitive reagents – ninhydrin, 1,8-Diazafluoren-9-
one, 1,2-indanedione and 1,2-indanedione and alternate reagents.
Lipid sensitive reagents – Oil red O and Nile red. Other techniques
- powder method.
Tutorial: Instrumental analysis of ink, paint, paper and finger print
of forensic samples.

Module Description
Module Description
IV Drugs of abuse and alcohols
Drugs – overview and orientation, Classification and categories –
by origin and function, general effect, use and by controlled
substance Act and listed chemicals. History of drug regulations –
Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act. Forensic
drug analysis – Analytical approach to drug evidence, presumptive
and confirmatory tests for acidic, basic, alkaloids and nonalkaloids
drugs – color test, microcrystalline test and by TLC- Drugs effect in
the human body.
Tutorial: Instrumental drug analysis and case study.

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Module Description
Module Description
V Chemistry of Combustion and Arson and Explosives
Combustion and Arson – Combustion continuum, Fire and flames,
arson and fire investigation, Accelerants and Incendiary Devices,
Forensic Analysis of Fire Debris. Explosives – Explosions,
detonations and explosives, Explosive power. Classification of
explosives – low and high explosives, power index, physical and
chemical properties of important explosives: black powder,
perchlorate explosives, TNT, RDX, PETN, TATP and urea nitrate.
Battery (secondary) explosions. Forensic examination of explosives
– chemical analysis - Ignition susceptibility test, color/spot tests;
separation methods – TLC
Tutorial: Instrumental analysis for bomb blast and battery
explosion.

Schedule of Instruction: Till CAT- I

Time Topics/Module No. of Activity Weightage

Period Sessions

Till CAT- I Basics of forensic chemistry CAT - I: 25 %

Introduction to forensic chemistry -
the flow of a forensic analysis, FAT – 20 %
forensic chemistry today- Historical
evidences – first forensic testimony.
Metrology and measurements,
Significant Figures, Rounding, and
Uncertainty, Accuracy, Precision and
Errors - types of analytical error,
Sampling - sample preparation and
screening. Expanding the scope of
forensic chemistry.
Tutorial: Forensic analysis of popular
case studies – Historical evidences.
Instrumentation – Forensic analysis CAT- I: 25 %
Chemical microscope, Spectroscopy
– basics – Fourier Transform-Infrared FAT – 20 %
(FT-IR), Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis),
Raman, mass spectrometry.
Elemental analysis – X-ray
fluorescence (XRF), powder X-ray
techniques (PXRD). Gas
Chromatography (GC), and High
Performance Liquid Chromatography
(HPLC) – SEM- EDAX.
Tutorial: Instrumentation analysis of
forensic samples

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Schedule of Instruction: CAT- I To CAT- II

Time Topics/Module No. of Activity Weightage

Period Sessions

CAT- I Physical evidences: Inks, paints, paper and finger marks CAT - II: 25
Inks and paints: Composition, chemistry, forensic analysis -
To analytical methods – solubility test, TLC and chemical test %
CAT- II (diphenylamine spot test for paints), aging and dating. FAT – 20 %
Paper: Basics - forensic analysis - differential staining
analysis - Herzberg’s and Jenk’s stain. Latent finger print
analysis: Sources of latent fingermark residue - aqueous
and lipid components, sources of compositional variation.
Chemical processing of latent fingermarks – amino acid
sensitive reagents – ninhydrin, 1,8-Diazafluoren-9-one, 1,2-
indanedione and 1,2-indanedione and alternate reagents.
Lipid sensitive reagents – Oil red O and Nile red. Other
techniques - powder method.
Tutorial: Instrumental analysis of ink, paint, paper and
finger print of forensic samples.
Drugs of abuse and alcohols CAT- II: 25 %
Drugs – overview and orientation, Classification and
categories – by origin and function, general effect, use and FAT – 20 %
by controlled substance Act and listed chemicals. History of
drug regulations – Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic
Substance (NDPS) Act. Forensic drug analysis – Analytical
approach to drug evidence, presumptive and confirmatory
tests for acidic, basic, alkaloids and nonalkaloids drugs –
color test, microcrystalline test and by TLC- Drugs effect in
the human body.
Tutorial: Instrumental drug analysis and case study.

Schedule of Instruction: CAT- II To FAT

Time Topics/Module No. of Activity Weightage

Period Sessions

CAT- II Chemistry of Combustion and Arson and FAT – 20 %

Explosives
To Combustion and Arson – Combustion
FAT continuum, Fire and flames, arson and fire
investigation, Accelerants and Incendiary
Devices, Forensic Analysis of Fire Debris.
Explosives – Explosions, detonations and
explosives, Explosive power. Classification of
explosives – low and high explosives, power
index, physical and chemical properties of
important explosives: black powder,
perchlorate explosives, TNT, RDX, PETN,
TATP and urea nitrate. Battery (secondary)
explosions. Forensic examination of
explosives – chemical analysis - Ignition
susceptibility test, color/spot tests;
separation methods – TLC
Tutorial: Instrumental analysis for bomb
blast and battery explosion.

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Evaluation Pattern
S.No. Activity Weightage (%)

1 CAT-I 15
2 CAT-II 15
3 TEE 30
4 Attendance 5
5 Class Assessment 35
(a) Group Activity (5)
(b) Quiz (10)
(c ) Tutorials (10)
(d) Assignment (10)

Time Table
Time 8.30 10:05 11:40 01:15 01:15 02:50 04:25 06:00
Day 10:00 11:35 01:10 02:45 02:45 04:20 05:55 07:30
Mon
Tue F1
Wed LF1
Thur F1
Fri

Time 8.30 10:05 11:40 01:15 01:15 02:50 04:25 06:00

Day 10:00 11:35 01:10 02:45 02:45 04:20 05:55 07:30
Mon LD1
Tue F2
Wed
Thur F2
Fri

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Module-I
Basics of Forensic Chemistry

By: Dr. Manoj Acharya

Copy Right @ VIT Bhopal University

An intentional act in violation of the

criminal law committed without
defence or excuse, and penalized by
the state.
Crime is a breech of rules or laws.
Crime is a deviant behaviour that
violate prevailing norms, cultural
standards prescribing how
humans ought to behave normally.

A Crime is an act in violation of a criminal law for which a punishment

is prescribed; the person committing it must have intended to do so and
must have done so without legally acceptable defence or justification.

Changing social, political, psychological and economic conditions may

effect the concept of crime and the form of the legal, law, enforcement
and penal responses made by the authority concerned.

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The Indian Penal Court, 1860 uses the word “Offence” in place of
“Crime”. Section 40 of IPC defines “offence” as an act punishable by
the Code.
What is Crime Scene??

Crime scene is a place where an

offence has been committed and
forensic evidence may be gathered.

Criminal Investigation

Criminal investigation is an applied science that involves the study of

facts, used to identify, locate and prove the guilt of an accused criminal.

A complete criminal investigation can include searching, interviews,

interrogations, evidence collection and preservation and various
methods of investigation.

Forensic Science- Science in service to law

Forensic science involves forensics which means

public discussion or debate.

Forensics applies to courts or the judicial system.

Combining forensics with science helps in
applying scientific method to solve the crimes.

Forensic science is the application of science to criminal and civil laws

mainly- on the criminal side during criminal investigation, as governed
by the legal standards of admissible evidence and criminal procedure.

Forensic science applies science principles, techniques and methods to

the investigation of crime.

Forensic science involves a multidisciplinary approach that covers

everything from biological methods to analytical chemistry techniques.

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Edmond Locard’s Exchange Principle (1910)- Every contact leaves

a Trace
Whenever criminal comes in contact with a person or object there is
cross transfer of evidences.
 The perpetrator leaves evidence behind and also takes evidence
away
 Longer you wait before collecting the evidence lesser are the
chances of their existence
 Everybody at the crime scene contaminate the evidence

The goal of forensic chemistry is to determine the origin of a sample i.e

link to a person, place or thing

Forensic Chemistry
With your team (Not more than 3members) list as many forensic
evidence as you can from the crime scene that you have watched in
the video!

Assign each of the item in your evidence list to the proper department
in the crime lab

Forensic chemistry is the applied analytical chemistry. Analytical

chemistry encompasses qualitative and quantitative analysis while
Forensic chemistry adds comparative analysis to the task list.

For example- Spectroscopic analysis can determine whether the fibre

is made up of nylon / polyethylene.
What is it & how much of it is there?

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So, Analytical chemistry provides qualitative and quantitative data

that is necessary to determine forensic questions like-
Q- Where could this fibre come from?
Q- Could this plastic piece come from plastic trash bag?
Q- Was whether the gasoline used to start the fire?
Q- Did this paint chip come from that car?

Forensic chemistry is the application of chemistry and its subfield,

forensic toxicology, in a legal setting. A forensic chemist can assist in
the identification of unknown materials found at a crime scene.

Forensic chemist have a wide array of methods and instruments to

help identify unknown substances.
For example- High Performance Liquid Chromatography
(HPLC), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS),
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), Fourier Transform
Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thin Layer Chromatography
(TLC).

Forensic chemists prefer using non-destructive methods first, to

preserve evidence and to determine which destructive methods will
produce the best results.
The range of different methods is important due to the destructive
nature of some instruments and the number of possible unknown
substances that can be found at a scene.

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Historical Evidences
 Ancient chemistry was related to the medicines and materials & the
knowledge was based on experiment and experience.

 Early humans used plants and animal products as treatment and

learned from experience what worked and what couldn’t but there
was no understanding of natural laws (Science).

 About 2500 years ago the Greeks were the first to set the idea of
science as a system or method to look the world.

 During this period the chemistry was well established in certain

areas like Natural dyes, Simple metallurgy, Soap making,
Cosmetics, Fermented beverages & Ceramics.

 Greeks formulated the idea of Science but Romans formulated the

idea of Forensic chemistry

 Most difficult crime to detect in ancient world was “Poisoning’ and

law was set by Romans in 82 BC.

 Romans executed number of women sentenced of poisoning

husbands, father, other relatives and significant others. The women
were executed by being forced to drink their own concoctions
(mixtures), leading to various versions of the preceding quote
(estimate).

 The word “Forensic” is a Latin word means “Forum”- a place

where Romans conducted business and legal proceedings. To speak
in forum was to speak the truth.

 The Romans & Greeks fails to contribute to the forensic science.

The first known codified laws were put forth by the people who
occupied the Tigris & Euphrates River Valley (Earliest known
cities & civilization)

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 The earliest known laws and legal system appeared around 2000
BC.
 The most famous Hammurabi’s code (named for the Babylonian
king in power around 1700 BC.

Summary
Poisons were first used by early Egyptians and ancient Greeks and
Romans. Democritus was one of the first chemist to study poisons, and
he told some of his findings to Hippocrates. Poisons were used both
for murder and as a means of execution; the philosopher Socrates was
condemned to death by drinking hemlock. The Ancient Romans had
laws against poisoning in 82 B.C.E.

Historical Evidences-The First Forensic Testimony

The first forensic testimony was given by

chemist M. J. B. Orfila (1783-1853) ~ Father of
Forensic Toxicology.

 Marie LaFarge was a young French widow

who at 24 remarried to Charles LaFarge (age
30) was not happy with her marriage.

 In 1839 Charles LaFarge died after eating

cake made by his wife Marie. The symptoms
showed arsenic poisoning.
 Marie was charged and chemical tests were performed on the body
of Charles but results were inconclusive.
 The court was unsatisfied & commissioned Orfila to conduct a
review of scientific work in investigation.

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 Orfila examined the body & was able to detect the arsenic in the
tissues. He collected the controlled samples, tested the soil in
which Charles and showed that arsenic was not originated from the
soil.
 Marie was sentenced and punished to involuntary servitude.
Forensic Chemistry Today

Analytical chemistry in forensic field is divided into two areas

 Forensic Toxicology
 Forensic Chemistry

Forensic chemistry work with biological evidence & follow trails of

drugs & poison ingested by humans & organisms. Forensic toxicology
deals with death investigation.

Metrology and Measurements

Metrology is the science of measurement. It establishes a common
understanding of units, crucial in linking human activities.
Decimal based metric system was adopted in 1795. Forensic
metrology is the science of measurement.

Forensic laboratories and criminalistics laboratories perform

numerous measurements and tests to support both criminal and civil
legal actions.

For Example- Measurement of blood & breath alcohol content,

Quantification of controlled samples (net weight & purity), length
measurement of firearm barrels.

Forensic metrology includes the tests that measure the presence of

substance (Drugs, Alcohol), Questioned Document Examination,
DNA Analysis.

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Equipment used in Forensic metrology are breath analyser, balances

& scale, Callipers, Gas Chromatographs, IR Graphs, UV Absorption
Graphs.

Flow of Forensic Analysis

Forensic Analysis is narrowing down the process.
Forensic chemist rely on three techniques
1) Visual Examination & Inspection
(Both Macroscopic & Microscopic Analysis)

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2) Organic chemical Analysis

3) Inorganic chemical analysis

Analysis starts with quantitative wet chemical test, most of the test
are based on observing results like Colour & Crystal Test which is
used for testing drugs, gunshots residue and explosives.

The second step involves the separation and isolation of target

components for identification. This step requires extraction and
chromatography.

Generally Thin Layer Chromatography is applied & confirmation of

probable substance is done by instrumental techniques like IR
Spectrophotometry, GC-MS etc.

Complete characterization of sample is not required in Forensic

analysis.

Significant Figures / Significant Digits

The concept of significant figure arises from use of measuring devices
and equipment & their associated uncertainty.
For example- In India blood alcohol level of 0.08% is the cutoff for
intoxication. How would interpret 0.0815/0.0799/0.0751? How the
data is rounded depends on instrument and devices.
A figure of digit denotes any one of the ten numbers
(0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9). A digit alone or in combination serves to express
a number.
A significant figure is a digit having some practical meaning i.e. it is a
digit which denotes the amount of quantity in the place in which it
stands.

Non-zero digits are always significant

Any zero between two significant digits are significant
A final zero / trailing zero in decimal portion only are significant.

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For Example- Non Zero digits are always significant

26.32- Four Significant digits 7.94- Three Significant digits

Any Zero between two significant digits are significant

406- 4 & 6 are Significant digits, 0 is a significant figure

A final zero or trailing zero in decimal portion ONLY are

significant
0.00500, 0.03040
0.000230, 0.0000002500
Non Significant Significant
5x10-3 Non significant zero disappear

Trailing Zero in whole number are not significant

200- One Significant digits
2.0 x 102 Two Significant digits
2.00 x 102 Three Significant digits
25000- Two Significant digits

Leading Zero in whole number are not significant

00250- Two Significant digits
005.00 x 10-4 Three Significant digits

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Rounding and Uncertainty (Error propagation)

In forensic chemistry quantitative measurements are performed &

each measurement is associated with certain degree of uncertainty, no
matter how careful and accurately measurements are done

No measurement is complete without an accompanied statement of

associated amount of uncertainty.

Forensic analysis rely on reports that contain quantitative data from

measurement results and decisions are directly impacted by errors
introduced from the omission of measurement uncertainty.

The number of significant digits in the value provides only rough

indication of its precision & the information is lost when rounding
off occurs.

There are two types of uncertainties-

1) Absolute Uncertainty
2) Relative Uncertainty

Absolute Uncertainty- Measure of uncertainty with same units as

reported value. For e.g.- The grape’s width is 12.2+/-0.2 mm, where
0.2 mm is AU.

Relative Uncertainty- Represents absolute uncertainty as fraction

(%). Use fraction during calculation. For e.g.- If you measure a pencil
to be 10 cm +/- 1 cm then relative uncertainty is 1/10th of its length.
RU is AU divided by measured value.

Rules of Rounding measurement data

Identify the first two significant digits. Moving from left to right, the
first non-zero number is considered to be first significant digit. Zeros
ahead of decimal point is not considered as significant digit.

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 When the digit which is to be retained is less than five or equal to 5,

keep the retained figure unchanged.
For example: 2.541 becomes 2.5 to two significant figures.
 When the digit which is to be retained is greater than five, increase
the retained figure by one.
For example: 2.453 becomes 2.5 to two significant figures.

 When the digit which is to be retained is exactly five, and the

retained digit is even, leave it unchanged; conversely if the digit is
odd, increase the retained figure by one (even/odd rounding).
For example: Thus, 3.450 becomes 3.4 but 3.550 becomes
3.6 to two significant figures.
 When two or more figures are to the right of the last figure to be
retained, consider them as a group in rounding decisions.
For example: 2.4(501), the group (501) is considered to be
greater than 5 while for 2.5(499), (499) is considered to be less than
5.

Accuracy & Precision

There are two contributors to Absolute Uncertainty-
1) Accuracy 2) Precision

Accuracy refers to the closeness of a measured value or standard or

known value.
For example- In lab we obtain a weight measurement of 8 kg of a
given substance and actual is 5 kg then measurement is not accurate.

Precision refers to the closeness of two or more measurements to each

other.
For example- In lab if we obtain a weight of given substance 8 kg
each time then measurement is not precise.

Precision is independent of accuracy i.e. One can be precise but

inaccurate or accurate but imprecise.

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Errors & its types

The difference between measured value/approximate value and
exact/known value.
Errors in chemistry do not represent mistakes but they represent
uncertainty in the results of measurement.

Errors can be of two types:

1) Systematic Error 2) Random Error

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Systematic Errors or Bias

A systematic error is caused by a defect in the analytical method or
by an improperly functioning instrument or analyst.

A procedure that suffers from a systematic error is always going to

give a mean value that is different from the true value. The term 'bias'
is sometimes used when defining and describing a systematic error.
Systematic errors tend to be consistent in magnitude and/or direction.
If the magnitude and direction of the error is known, accuracy can be
improved by additive or proportional corrections.
Systematic errors may be due to instrumental errors, environmental
errors, theoretical errors and observational errors.
Random Errors
Random errors are unavoidable. They are unavoidable due to the
fact that every physical measurement has limitation, i.e. some
uncertainty.

Random errors are caused by the

sudden change in experimental
conditions, noise and tiredness in the
working persons. These errors are
either positive or negative.

For example- The random errors due

change in humidity, unexpected
change in temperature and fluctuation
in voltage. These errors may be
reduced by taking the average of a
large number of readings.

Sampling
Sampling is a process used in statistical analysis in which a
predetermined number of observations are taken from a larger
population.

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The methodology used to sample from a larger population depends on

the type of analysis being performed but may include simple random
sampling or systematic sampling.

The sample should be a representation of the entire population. When

taking a sample from a larger population, it is important to consider
how the sample is chosen. To get a representative sample, the sample
must be drawn randomly and encompass the whole population.

Systematic sampling is a type of probability sampling method in which

sample members from a larger population are selected according to a
random starting point and a fixed periodic interval. This interval,
called the sampling interval.

Sampling interval is calculated by dividing the population size by the

desired sample size.

Despite the sample population being selected in advance, systematic

sampling is still thought of as being random if the periodic interval is
determined beforehand and the starting point is random.

A wide variety of physical evidence can be collected at a scene that is

thought valuable for collection and investigation:

• Biological evidence (e.g., blood, body fluids, hair and other tissues)
• Latent print evidence (e.g., fingerprints, palm prints, foot prints)
• Footwear and tire track evidence
• Trace evidence (e.g., fibers, soil, vegetation, glass fragments)
• Digital evidence (e.g., cell phone records, Internet logs, email
messages)
• Tool and tool mark evidence
• Drug evidence
• Firearm evidence

The type of evidence collected will vary with the type of crime.

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Precautions to be taken during Sampling

 Biological fluids can be collected using either wide-bore pipettes or

disposable hypodermic syringes with appropriate needle gauges
and lengths.

 Contamination may be introduced if metal scalpels or needles are

used for collection and metal analysis is subsequently performed;

 Containers should be new and preferably rinsed with distilled water

and sterilized before use, unless the manufacturer's states it
unnecessary.

 Separate containers should be used to accommodate different

samples and plastic (especially polypropylene) with screw caps is
useful in the majority of cases since it does not break during
frozen.

 If volatile xenobiotics (e.g. solvent abuse or intoxication with

anaesthetic gases) are to be analysed, samples should be promptly
collected and glass containers sealed with PTFE (Teflon) or
aluminium foil-lined lids are preferable to avoid greater losses by
diffusion registered through plastic containers

 Containers should be filled (but not overfilled) to minimize

headspace and therefore losses due to evaporation (e.g. volatiles
such as ethanol).

 Containers should be open at the time of analysis and only when

cold at 4 °C.

 A self-adhesive tamper-resistant stickers should be placed over

container lids to assure that samples were not adulterated.

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 The label should include the following information: institutional

case number identifier or request number, name of the victim or
other identifier, sample type (e.g. blood, liver, kidney, etc.) and
anatomic (structure of body) place of blood collection when
applicable (e.g. cardiac versus femoral (Arterial) blood), signature
of the examiner, date and time of collection.

Viscera/Body Fluids to be Preserved in All Cases

where Toxicological Analysis is Deemed Necessary
S.No. Material Quantity
1 Stomach Entire
2 Stomach Content Up to 300 ml
3 Small Intestine 30 cm ( entire length in Infants)
4 Small intestinal contents Up to 100 ml
5 Liver (portion containing all Bladder) Up to 500 gm ( Entire in Infants)
6 Kidneys One haIf of each Kidney ( Both Kidney in
Infant)

S.No. Material Quantity

7 Blood 10 ml
8 Spleen (An organ in the upper far left part of the ½ in adult and whole in
abdomen, to the left of the stomach). infants
9 Urine 20-30 ml

Sample Preparation in Forensic Chemistry

In Forensic chemistry, sample preparation refers to the ways in
which a sample is treated prior to its analysis.
Preparation is a very important step in most analytical techniques,
because the techniques are often not responsive to the analyte in its in-
situ (on-site) form, or the results are distorted by interfering species.
Sample preparation may involve dissolution, extraction,
reaction with some chemical species, pulverizing, treatment with a
chelating agent (e.g. EDTA), masking (reagent which reacts with
chemical species which may interfere in the analysis) , filtering,
dilution, sub-sampling or many other techniques.

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Sample preparation is typically employed to concentrate the species of

interest prior to analysis or to remove unwanted matrix components.

Scope of Forensic Chemistry

Embraces the chemical side of investigation.

Analysis of any material (Blood, Urine, Semen, Gun powder, Hair,

Drug.

Related to other Forensic Science

Forensic Science interrelated with Forensic Chemistry

Analysis of Legal Medicine, Ballistics, Questioned Documents,

Dactyloscopy (Scientific study of Finger Prints), Photography.

The scope of Forensic Chemistry also include the application and or

development of any molecular and atomic spectrochemical technique,
electrochemical techniques, sensors, surface characterization
techniques, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance,
chemometrics (extracting information from chemical systems by data
driven means) and statistics, and separation sciences (e.g.
chromatography) that provide insight into the forensic analysis of
materials.

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Case Study: Sunanda Pushkar- Suicide / Murder Case

January 15, 2014- Sunanda and Shashi Tharoor
fly from Kerala to Delhi, the couple fighting
constantly on the flight. She allegedly slaps
Tharoor at the Delhi airport; congress
functionary Manish Tiwari is a witness to their
fights

January 16, 2014- Tharoor’s checks into the hotel, they shift to suite
345; the couple gets engaged in a nightlong argument. Sunanda calls
up her friends, including Nalini Singh, informing her about Shashi
Tharoor's alleged affair with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar

January 17, 2014- Sunanda goes to sleep around 6.30 am; Shashi
Tharoor leaves for AICC MEET. Help Narain Swami remains at the
suite. Shashi Tharoor returns around 6.30 pm, claims to check on
Sunanda after sometime. Finds her unresponsive, doctor called in, her
ECG conducted. She is declared dead, but not taken to hospital

January 18, 2014- Autopsy report says death was sudden and
unnatural; death due to drug poisoning. Police recover three strips of
Alprax (Sleeping Pills) with three tablets left in the second strip.

Almost a year later, on January 6, 2015, police registered an FIR

against unknown persons under IPC Section 302 (murder), but more
than two and a half years on, they are yet to file either a charge sheet
or a closure report in the case.
Forensic Analysis & Failures
The Delhi Police have failed to identity the "unknown fingerprints"
found in the room at Hotel Leela where Sunanda Pushkar, was
found dead four years ago, derailing the investigation in the
mysterious death.

The police also found a piece of broken glass from the crime scene
but there was no lead established from this as well.

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The Delhi Police report based on the autopsy said that the cause of
death was poisoning. Two injuries on the body including an injection
mark on her hand were specifically mentioned.

The medical board constituted to submit a report on the death of

Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, has failed
to make any conclusions in its findings submitted to Delhi Police.

Assignment
Case Study: Arushi Talwar murder- Mystery remain
unsolved.

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