40% Increase in Forensic Case Analysis

Mumbai : The Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratories has seen a 22% increase in the number of forensic cases received in 2024. The number of cases received has risen from 20,658 in January 2024 to 25,258 in December 2024. At the same time, there has been a significant improvement in the case analysis capacity. The number of cases analyzed increased from 16,010 in January 2024 to 22,770 in December 2024. Reports of analyzed cases have shown a 40% increase.

To manage this growth and expedite case resolutions, the Directorate has focused on recruitment and modern technology. In 2024, the Directorate recruited for 53 positions, including two deputy directors, three assistant directors, 33 assistant chemical analysts, and 15 scientific officers (cyber). The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) is also in the process of recruiting 17 assistant directors. Additionally, recruitment for Class 3 staff is ongoing.

The Directorate is taking special measures to resolve pending cases, including hiring contract staff as needed. A total of 170 forensic positions and 166 Class 4 contract positions have been filled. The remaining positions will be filled by the National Forensic Science University (NFSU). The Directorate is also working on expanding forensic capabilities and speeding up cyber forensic analysis by developing semi-automatic processing solutions and excellence centers in digital forensics. These projects integrate state-of-the-art forensic workstations, data acquisition tools, and advanced data processing and analysis solutions, significantly improving the speed and accuracy of cyber case investigations.

The Directorate is prioritizing highly sensitive cases, including POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) cases, undertrial prisoner cases, and cases ordered by the courts. With these initiatives, the Directorate is enhancing Maharashtra’s forensic science services and expediting case resolutions, as reported by the department.