FORENSIC SCIENCE

INTERNAL CONTINUOUS EVALUATION – III

CRIME SCENE INVOLVING DROWNING

SUBMITTED BY:

RHYTHM KATYAL

B.A. LL.B., BATCH 2017-2022, DIV-C PRN- 17010223032

OF

SYMBIOSIS LAW SCHOOL, NOIDA

SYMBIOSIS INTERNATIONAL (DEEMED UNIVERSITY) PUNE

IN

FEBRUARY, 2021

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF:

DR. MEGHA CHAUHAN (COURSE-IN-CHARGE)

SYMBIOSIS LAW SCHOOL, NOIDA
SYMBIOSIS INTERNATIONAL (DEEMED UNIVERSITY) PUN
CRIME SCENE INVOLVING DEATH BY DROWNING

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1

CERTIFICATE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2

HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

MANAGEMENT OF CRIME SCENE -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

RECOGNITION AND RECOVERY OF EVIDENCES (PHYSICAL EVIDENCES FOUND FROM THE CRIME

SCENE) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8

DOCUMENTATION (PHYSICAL EVIDENCES FOUND FROM THE CRIME SCENE)----------------------- 9

CSM DOCUMENTATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10

HANDLING EVIDENCES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11

EVIDENCE RECOVERY CHART (PHYSICAL EVIDENCES FOUND FROM THE -------------------------- 14

CRIME SCENE) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14

FORENSIC ANALYSIS OF THE EVIDENCE COLLECTED AND ANALYSIS OF THE ------------------ 15

CRIME SCENE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15

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CRIME SCENE INVOLVING DEATH BY DROWNING

CERTIFICATE

The project titled “Crime Scene involving Drowning” submitted to the Symbiosis Law School,
Noida for Forensic Science as part of Internal Assessment is based on my original work carried out
under the guidance of Dr. Megha Chauhan from January 2021 till February 2021. The Research
work has not been submitted elsewhere for award of any degree.

The material borrowed from other sources and incorporated in the research paper has been duly
acknowledged.

Signature of the Candidate

24TH FEBRUARY 2021

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CRIME SCENE INVOLVING DEATH BY DROWNING

HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION

The local newspapers had flooded with headlines reading “Death of an Icon”. Mumbai Police Officers were
immediately out in their uniforms, looking for a suspect in the matter which was reported as ‘death by
drowning’. The case was high-profile and death of S RIVEDA KAPOOR was in absolute limelight, even across
national borders. The ‘investigative’ media of the country, as it works nowadays, wasted no time in alleging that
it was SRIVEDA’S own wife, MRS. BONY who had attracted the punishment under Section 302 of the Indian
Penal Code 1860.

The Mumbai Police, on the basis and legalities of the Criminal Procedure Code 1973, conducted a search and
seizure of the premises where the couple had spent the previous day. The building was a 7-Star luxury hotel
owned by one MR. MITHUN DAA. The tip that the police got by their informant was that MR. SRIVEDA KAPOOR
was once a close friend of MR. MITHUN DAA, but they had recently been avoiding each other. It was believable
after all, because the newspapers never shied away from covering the “talk of the town” affair between M R.
MITHUN DAA and MRS. BONY. However, both MR. MITHUN DAA and MRS. BONY were not present at the hotel
during the time search and seizure was conducted.

The room SRIVEDA and BONY had checked in was the most expensive home-suite #900. The suite covered the
entire 9th floor of the hotel. Whilst the search and seizure, MR. SRIVEDA’S dead body was found in the big bath-
tub of the suite bathroom, blue from top to bottom and with dried blood under his left eye and the strange part
was that the body was fully clothed. There was an unbefitting workout dumbbell of printed weight 3 Kgs under
the slab of the wash basin. The floor had no visible water marks. The police were certain that the entire matter
was here to stay for long. The police were able to gather evidences from these rooms, and also issued arrest
warrants and arrested few people in relation to the crime being under investigation.

MANAGEMENT OF CRIME SCENE

The following procedures were followed during the management of crime scene-

PLANNING
Once the crime was reported to the police station, a team of experts at crime scene investigationwas
planned and thereby left to the premises.

The expert team comprised of —

1. POLICE OFFICER: 11 police personnel, including 2 inspectors, 4 sub-inspectors etc.

They were responsible for safeguarding, sealing and providing absolute containment of
the scene so that it could not be tampered with.
2. INVESTIGATOR: 2 special investigators were appointed to look into the investigation of
the crime scene and look into the crime committed, evidences, suspects and witnesses
if any.

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CRIME SCENE INVOLVING DEATH BY DROWNING

3. MEDICOLEGAL DEATH INVESTIGATOR/MEDICAL EXAMINER: Medicolegal Death

Investigator essential to perform the requisite functions, instrumental in obtaining
relevant death scene information through scene visitation and direct observation or
from other first responders, and for providing written and photographic
documentation along with a report to be reviewed by the forensic pathologist.
4. PHOTOGRAPHER: A forensic photographer to capture the entire area before its entered.
Also, photograph entire scene with overall, medium and close-up coverage. It is
pertinent that all latent fingerprints and other impression evidence is photographed,
before lifting and casting is done.
5. FORENSIC EXPERT: 2 forensic experts were in the expert panel to collect important
evidence from the crime scene and make detailed notes describing it, including its
appearance and location. They’re also required to preserve such evidence, test them and
report the findings.
6. SKETCHER: The sketcher was present for the property inspection of the hotel, the
entry and exit areas as the sketch usually clarifies the special information present within
photographs as photographs don’t allow the viewer to easily gauge distances and
dimensions.

ORGANIZATION & COORDINATION

1. LOCKING DOWN THE CRIME SCENE:

It was made sure that nobody was inside the crime scene, and a physical barrier was
placed at the entry of the suite bathroom and the 9TH floor was completely sealed for
further public use.
2. SETTING UP CRIME SCENE PERIMETERS:
It is the size of crime scene. In the present case, the home-suite on the 9TH floor of the
hotel was marked as the crime scene. It is made sure that no unauthorized person
crosses the perimeter.
3. ESTABLISHING A PATH OF CONTAMINATION:
To avoid further contamination and maintain forensic integrity of the crime scene, there
is a designated pathway for the authorised personnel to conduct their investigative
duties which is the path of contamination. It is marked by tape.
4. ESTABLISHING CRIME SCENE SECURITY:
A security system is put in place to ensure no unauthorized person enters the crime scene. In the
present case, 5 police officers were assigned to guard the crime scene and deal with crowd. They
only allow access to person who have authorized investigative duties inside the crime scene.
Example- Investigative officer, forensic expert, medical examiner etc.

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 CRIME SCENE INVOLVING DEATH BY DROWNING

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
1. Gloves
2. Foot gloves
3. Weighing machine
4. Notebook
5. Investigator Kit
6. Examination Kit
7. Fingerprint Kit
8. Collection Paraphernalia
9. Recording Equipment
10. Long-Suction Tube

PRESERVING
Once the crime scene was sealed, contaminated and guarded, it was time to preserve the crimescene.
For that, in the expert panel, photographer, videographer and sketcher had come to preserve the
scene via clicking photographs, making videos and sketching the crime scene. Documentation was
also done via the investigators who were appointed for this case by note making from the time he
entered the crime scene. Police were constantly enquiring from people nearby.

SKETCHING
This is a e - sketch of the bathroom of the home suite, wherein the body and evidences were found.

Fig. 1 – Detailed e-sketch of the bathroom of the Home Suite No. 900.

A – DEAD
BODY OF
THE VICTIM

B
DUMBBELL

C – BATH-
TUB

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CRIME SCENE INVOLVING DEATH BY DROWNING

PHOTOGRAPHY

There were multiple photographs taken of the dead body and the crime scene from various angles along with
close up photographs of the evidences. The pictures include crime scene (bathroom), dead body’s face (blue due
to congestion and cyanosis), dead body’s hands (wrinkled and pale), dumbbell (weight used to hold victim down
in water).

Fig. 2 – Crime Scene (Bathroom of

Home -Suite #900)

Fig. 3 – Face of Dead Body of the Mr. Sriveda

(Blue due to Congestion and Cyanosis) – Blood
Marks under the left eye.

Fig. 4 – Close-up of Hands of Dead Body of Mr.

Sriveda (Wrinkled and Pale due to drowning)

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CRIME SCENE INVOLVING DEATH BY DROWNING

Fig. 5 – 3 Kg Dumbbells (Possibly

the Weight used to hold victim
down – Finger Print Scan
Required)/ possibility of the
dumbbells being a weapon for
hitting.

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CRIME SCENE INVOLVING DEATH BY DROWNING

RECOGNITION AND RECOVERY OF EVIDENCES

(PHYSICAL EVIDENCES FOUND FROM THE
CRIME SCENE)

Evidence is to be recovered properly in order to analyze them properly. There are search techniques
to search and sweep the crime scene.
Firstly, the investigative officer did a walkthrough to gain an overview of the crime scene. Then,
Spiral Method was applied to search for evidence.
In Spiral method, one investigator started from the center of the bathroom (outward) and other one
from the periphery (inward). This way it was easier to recreate an image of the entire scenario and a
crime-map was drawn.

Fig. 6 – Blue Print (Inward Spiral Method) Fig. 7 – Blue Print (Outward Spiral Method)

Evidence Collected –
 Dumbbells weighing 3 Kgs – Finger Print Test +ve (Two).
 Underground water pipe – Bodily Substance Test +ve (One).
 CCTV Footage of Hotel Main Entry, 9TH Floor and the Gym.

Apart from the physical evidences aforementioned, various trace evidence were also found in the
crime scene. Tweezers, small plastic containers with lid, and knives were used to collect and pack
such evidence which may lead to more suspects in the case.

SCENE INVESTIGATION AND REVIEW OF HISTORY (CHECK-LIST)

 Body location, position, condition, temperature

 Victim identification, medical, social, and psychiatric history

 Water conditions

 Recovery efforts and agencies involved

 Resuscitation efforts

 Evidence collection and preservation: clothing and personal effects, drowning medium

 Ancillary collection/examinations by forensic anthropologist, entomologist, biologist

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CRIME SCENE INVOLVING DEATH BY DROWNING

DOCUMENTATION (PHYSICAL EVIDENCES

FOUND FROM THE CRIME SCENE)

The investigators noted down essential information when they reached the crime scene in the note
pads. This note making process is also an important part of preserving the crime scene, done
throughout investigation.

Senior investigators Pratyush Arora and Shivam Gupta noted the following information —

1. 24TH February 2021 - Tip received by Sachin Gujral to the Crime Investigation Dept.

2. Crime Scene Team gathered at the Hotel at 12:50 P.M. – Commercial area is located around
the Hotel.

3. Entered J.E.T Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Trade Centre 2, Mumbai, Maharashtra 620029 at
1:00 P.M.

4. 10-storey building — ground floor and first floor: Luxury Facilities like Gym, Spa etc.

5. Ninth floor – Entirely covered by the Home-Suite Number 900, except the lift area. No other
conventional means for reaching the ninth floor except the elevator or the staircase.

6. No sign of breakage of doors/windows.

7. No water marks on the floor of the bathroom.

8. MR. SRIVEDA’S body still in the bath-tub. Blue from congestion and cyanosis. Hands
completely wrinkled and pale because of drowning. No other bodily marks except dried
blood mark under the left eye.

9. Out of place dumbbells of 3 Kg in the Bathroom, under the Basin Slab.

10. Suspect MR. MITHUN DAA and MRS. BONY are not available at the location. Hotel
receptionist informed that MR. MITHUN DAA had left with MRS. BONY in the morning to take
MRS. BONY to a hospital and then to reach the police to report MR. SRIVEDA’S “suicide”.
Hotel Receptionist was the same informant who tipped the police about the possibility of
MR. SRIVEDA’S death being a planned murder.

11. Evidence found — CCTV Footage: Still to be thoroughly scrutinized. 3 Kg dumbbells with
still to be identified finger prints. Evidence sealed and packed in hazmat bags – more
information to be availed at forensiclab.

12. Witnesses — Priyansh Khandelwal (Hotel Receptionist), Rishi Sharma (Gym Instructor at
the Hotel Gym), Devanshi Tiwary (Practicing Advocate – Guest at the Hotel – Room 808)
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CRIME SCENE INVOLVING DEATH BY DROWNING

CSM DOCUMENTATION

WORKSHEET
FIR 1101/2021

Suspect Mr. Mithun Daa

Scene of Occurrence J.E.T Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Trade Centre

2, Mumbai, Maharashtra 620029

Informer Sachin Gujral

Time of Intimation 11:30 AM

Arrival Time 12:50 PM

Nature of Incidence Crime involving Death by Drowning

Team Members 1) Senior Investigating Officer:

Pratyush Arora
2) Junior Investigating Officer: Shivam
Gupta
3) Inspector – S.L Katyal
4) Inspector – Vijaylakshmi Dhawan
5) Sub-inspectors – Akarsh Garg,
Anmol Bakshi, Ankit Raj.
6) Forensic Expert: Chhavi Katyal
7) Medical Examiner: Rahul Tanwar
8) Photographer: Nikhil Naren
9) Videographer: Anurag Kashyap
10) Sketcher: M. Hussain
11) Police Officers: Bajirao Singham,
Sangram Bhalerao, Ganesh Gaitonde,
Chulbul Pandey, S.S Shekhawat

DESCRIPTION
Victim Mr. Sriveda Kapoor

Scene Death by drowning in bath-tub of hotel

bathroom.
Corpus delicti Available: Pipeline with blood marks,
dumbbells with finger prints, CCTV
FOOTAGE.
Condition of Surrounding No water marks around the floor. Everything
in place. Out of place dumbbells in bathroom.
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CRIME SCENE INVOLVING DEATH BY DROWNING

HANDLING EVIDENCES

1. 3 Kg Dumbbells with yet to be identified finger prints: -

CHAIN OF CUSTODY

FIR No. 1101/2021

Police Station Bandra Police Station

Exhibit Number Exhibit 1

Item Description 3 Kg Dumbbells with yet to be identified

finger prints.

Date and Time of Collection 24th February, 1:37 PM

Identity of Person who collected the Investigative Senior officer: Pratyush Arora
evidence

Location J.E.T Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Trade Centre

2, Mumbai, Maharashtra 620029

Signature

LABEL

No. and Date of Case 336/4, 24th February 2021

Name of Police Station Bandra Police Station

Description 3 Kg Dumbbells with yet to be identified

finger prints.

Name of I.O. Pratyush Arora

Name of witness and signature Rishi Sharma -

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CRIME SCENE INVOLVING DEATH BY DROWNING

2. Under the floor, water pipe – Connecting bath-tub drainage to Water Harvesting system

CHAIN OF CUSTODY

FIR No. 1101/2021

Police Station Bandra Police Station

Exhibit Number Exhibit 2

Item Description Water Pipe: Pass through: Drainage to

Harvesting Unit.
Date and Time of Collection 24th February, 1:52 PM

Identity of Person who collected the Forensic Expert: Chhavi Katyal

evidence

Location J.E.T Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Trade Centre

2, Mumbai, Maharashtra 620029

Name & Signature

LABEL

No. and Date of Case 336/4, 24th February 2021

Name of Police Station Bandra Police Station

Description Water Pipe: Pass through: Drainage to

Harvesting Unit.

Name of I.O. Pratyush Arora

Name of witness and signature Devanshi Tiwary –

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CRIME SCENE INVOLVING DEATH BY DROWNING

3. CCTV Footage – Entrance, 9th Floor and Gym of the Hotel.

CHAIN OF CUSTODY

FIR No. 1101/2021

Police Station Bandra Police Station

Exhibit Number Exhibit 3

Item Description CCTV Footage – in UMDs

Date and Time of Collection 24th February, 3:25 PM

Identity of Person who collected the Investigative Officer: Shivam Gupta

evidence
Location J.E.T Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Rd, Trade Centre 2,
Mumbai, Maharashtra 620029
Name & Signature

LABEL
No. and Date of Case 336/4, 24th February 2021

Name of Police Station Bandra Police Station

Description CCTV Footage – Entrance, 9th Floor and

Gym of the Hotel.
Name of I.O. Shivam Gupta

Name of witness and signature Priyansh Khandelwal

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CRIME SCENE INVOLVING DEATH BY DROWNING

EVIDENCE RECOVERY CHART (PHYSICAL

EVIDENCES FOUND FROM THE
CRIME SCENE)

S. No. Evidence Material Quantity Container Seals Witness Remarks

1. 3 Kg Cast Iron Two (2) – Wood Exhibit Rishi Further

Dumbbells – 3 + 3 Kgs Box 1 Sharma information to
with yet to be Probable = 6 Kgs be received at
identified Weapon forensic lab
finger prints about finger
prints.
2. Water Pipe: PVC – 1 Master- Plastic Exhibit Devanshi Further
Pass through: Hint of Pipe Bag 2 Tiwary information to
Drainage to Bodily be received at
Harvesting Fluid of forensic lab.
Unit. Victim.

3. CCTV Plastic outer 3 Universal Exhibit Priyansh Further

Footage – covering, Media 3 Khandelwal information
in UMDs technical Disk required.
chips inside. Presumably
Lens fitted. reveals
location of the
suspects
during
Victim’s
death.

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CRIME SCENE INVOLVING DEATH BY DROWNING

FORENSIC ANALYSIS OF THE EVIDENCE

COLLECTED AND ANALYSIS OF THE
CRIME SCENE

To establish the diagnosis of drowning it is of particular importance to correlate information about

the circumstances preceding the death, the past medical history of the victim if known, the
circumstances of the body recovery from the water, the external examination, the autopsy findings
and the results of the complementary analyses (histologic, biochemical, toxicological analyses and
diatom test).

In the present case:

THE BODY:

On histological examination of the lungs, intra-alveolar hemorrhagic edema fluid in a patchy or

confluent distribution is found and an emphysematous-like alveolar pattern can be seen. Upon brain
removal, the petrous ridges (temporal bones) appear dark-red as a result of subcortical congestion
with hemorrhage, as a result of pressure changes in middle ear pressure incurred by a sinking body

Diatom Test not applicable in the present case as it cannot be used reliably to establish the
diagnosis of drowning when the immersion water contains few or no diatoms, which is the case in
bathtub drowning.

Poisoning in water or otherwise undetected after thorough bio-chemical testing.

The toxicological analysis is performed to show the presence of medicaments or alcohol, taken
before death in suicidal or accidental conditions. Excessive amount of alcohol consumed before
death.

THE DUMBBELLS:

Finger Print Analysis reveals finger prints of MRS. BONY on the dumbbells (between the attached
metallic plates, on the cast iron rod).

THE WATER PIPE:

Chemical Testing reveals no trace of poison, but high amount of Uric Acid found at the tip of the
pipe, thereby hinting towards passing of urine. No trace of blood found in the pipe. Reveals a
leakage, which could have been the reason for Witness #3 experiencing leakage in her room.

CCTV FOOTAGE:

Image Analysis reveals Suspect #2 - MRS. BONY visiting the Hotel Gym and taking away the 3 Kg
Dumbbells with her back to her home-suite. Suspect #2 was seen leaving the premises in shock and
fear, with no visible traces or marks of blood. Entrance footage reveals that Suspect #1 - M R.
MITHUN DAA never came to the hotel until 5 minutes before the probable time of death of the
Victim.


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