What is crime scene?

Crime scene is a place, where a crime is committed. It is also known as scene of crime, or sport of
crime, or scene off occurrence.

For this purpose, crime scene unit is established, in every district headquarter of Rajasthan, which is
well-equipped and have facility to examine or screening physical evidences. They have kits for
detecting blood, semen, narcotic material, explosive material etc.

The usual questions at crime scene are according to nature of crime, for example: in a suspected
murder case, the questions maybe:

 What is the manner of death?

 Whether the crime scene is original or replicated?
 What type of weapon was used in committing the crime?
 What evidences are to be collected?

General precautions on crime scene:

1. Securing the crime scene:

Valuable information and evidences maybe lost, if the crime scene is not properly protected.

Finger prints, footprints of over lookers maybe added at the crime scene.

In outdoor crime scene a yellow coloured tape, with a label like “No entry” should be used in order
to protect the crime scene.

2. Documentation of crime scene:

The details of case, for example: FIR number, relevant dates, police station, time of occurrence of
crime, crime location, time of intimation, time of arrival etc. should be noted.

A brief fact of the crime should also be noted.

3. Photography of the crime scene:

Location of crime scene, for e.g. name plate, house number, in an indoor crime scene, along with
injuries, should be photographed.

Photography of hands of the death body should be done, if something like, hair, button, piece of
present of clothe is present in the hand.

Weapon, if present, should be photographed.

Any article, which can be related to crime should be photographed. A scale should be placed along
with small articles.

Any sign of struggle should also be photographed.

Evidences like pattern of blood, at crime scene should also be photographed.

4. Sketching of the crime scene:

It is a common practice to draft a sketch of crime scene. Sketch is very easy to draft as well as easy to
explain in Courts.

Sketch is not drawn according to actual majorment, but instances can be mentioned. For example:
sealing heights, in a hanging case, direction and relevant details of distance may also be mentioned
in the sketch.

In outdoor crime scene, certain marks are used to show the details in the sketch.

5. Search for evidence:

In indoor crime scene it becomes easy to search for evidences, but due to larger size, the outdoor
crime scene requires certain methods for searching of evidences. One of the following methods can
be used to cover crime scene:

I. Strip or line method: in this, the team search evidence in parallel lines.
II. Grid method: in grid method, the member of team search evidence by moving right
Engle to each other, in parallel lines.
III. Zone method: in this method, the crime scene is divided into small zones.
IV. Wheel method: in this method, the team starts from Center and moves towards
periphery.
V. Spiral method: here, the team starts from center and take a spiral path towards outside.

6. Reconstruction of crime scene

It means; recreation of crime scene, which is required to know hot the crime was exactly committed.
It is always based on various information present on crime scene as well as statements of eye-
witnesses. If scientists is able to reconstruct crime scene in a correct manner, he is not only able to
give answers about the manner of crime, but will also be able to find enough evidences accordingly.

7. Observations at Crime scene:

The observation at crime scene differs or changes with type of crime.

In criminal cases:

The entry point of crime scene is very important. If a door is closed and locked from the inner side,
and there is no other entry point, here in this case, suicide is expected. Forceful opening of door may
also be checked to confirm the same.

Finger prints on the door and electric switches as well as other articles present at the crime scene,
should be observed carefully.

Footprints may be present on the floor of the crime scene, it should also be noted carefully.

In a murder case, position of death body, presence of injuries, presence of rigor mortis, presence of
postmortem staining on death body and location of the same, amount and pattern of blood strains
should be recorded, absence or presence of weapon should be noted. In case of fire arm injury,
bullets and empty cartridge cases should be searched.

Note:

I. Rigor Mortis: Also known as rider mortis. Means; stiffening/hardness of body after
death. Particularly used for calculating time of death.
II. Postmortem staining: Also known as Postmortem lividity. It is a bluish or reddish-purple
discoloration due to Capello-venous distension with blood, at the undersurface of the
skin of the dependent parts of the body, due to settling of blood in those areas due to
pull of the gravity, when circulation to keep the blood in motion ceases.

In case of burning, certain articles are specially observed, like container of inflammable material,
matchbox, matchstick, lighter etc.

Examination of door in such a case, becomes very important, it helps to establish that at the time of
crime, it was closed from inner side or not.

What is secondary crime scene?

Sometimes, the criminal transport death body from actual crime scene to another place, which is
known as secondary crime scene. In such case, the secondary crime scene can be known by the
presence of blood, pattern of blood at crime scene and other articles at crime scene. The location of
post-mortem staining on death body and breaking of rigor mortis also give important information
regarding transportation of death body.

8. Reporting of crime scene:

Reporting of crime scene is

The observation report of crime scene includes following points;

Details of case, like: FIR number, date, police station, district, crime location, date and time of crime,
date and time of visit of crime scene.

Brief facts of case have told by investigation officer.

Observations of the case are mentioned clearly. Distances between articles, or places should be
mentioned, wherever it requires.

A set of photographs should also be enclosed along with the report.

9. Instructions given to investigation officer, (IO):

The IO is instructed regarding lifting, packing, sealing etc. of evidences and advised to send them to
forensic lab for further examination, under section 293 of CR.P.C.