Delhi’s women crime scene experts: Meet the forensic minds solving the capital’s toughest cases

Working in the shadows of crime scenes, a team of four women forensic and fingerprint experts with Delhi Police is redefining investigative work.

With sharp analytical skills and unwavering dedication, they decode criminal behavior, analyze digital trails, and extract crucial forensic evidence, helping bring perpetrators to justice.

Despite societal perceptions that forensic work is too intense for women, these experts continue to challenge norms. Whether it’s examining grisly crime scenes, decoding cyber trails, or analyzing evidence, they remain steadfast, ensuring that justice is served with scientific precision.

TOI's Abhay looks at their journey and challenges:

Decoding minds: Avani Datta

Forensic psychologist Avani Datta, 28, has handled over 100 cases since 2021. Specializing in human psychology, she plays a key role in investigations, particularly in cases involving sexual offenses, where victims may be hesitant to share their experiences.

“There is no particular time to start my work. I have to be available 24/7,” said Datta, who holds a master’s degree in forensic psychology. Winning the trust of both victims and suspects is her biggest challenge.

“I have to uncover the things they are hiding from the cops,” she explained.


When working with victims, Datta ensures a supportive environment, considering family and social stigma that might deter them from speaking up. At times, victims even regret filing complaints, and she helps them find the strength to stand by their decision. When interrogating the accused, she reads body language and behavioral cues to expose hidden truths.

Crime scene analyst: Mithra Madhu

Mithra Madhu, a forensic expert with an MSc in forensics, has examined over 2,000 crime scenes in the past four years. Whether it’s a murder, accident, or crime against women, she pieces together evidence that others might overlook.

“You have to be mentally alert all the time. Sometimes a case comes at 2 am or 3 am and sometimes with just an hour between two cases. Through the day, we have 10-15 cases on our hands. We cannot allow stress to get the better of us,” said Madhu.

Upon reaching a crime scene, she secures the area, gathers witness statements, and cross-checks findings with the investigating officer.

“Once we start investigating, we verify whether the information we have gathered is corroborated by the crime scene evidence. We notice things others may miss because we have been trained that way,” she added.

Her expertise extends to determining a victim’s age, time of death, and decomposition patterns, providing key insights into homicide investigations.

Tracking cybercriminals: Akanksha

While her colleagues work in the physical world, 26-year-old Akanksha operates in the digital space. A specialist in cyber forensics, she has helped crack over 350 cybercrime cases, including online fraud and call center scams.

“Cybercriminals constantly change their modus operandi. We have to be ever alert to tackle them,” she said.

Often, cybercriminals attempt to erase evidence before being caught, but Akanksha retrieves crucial data for law enforcement. On an average day, she analyzes about eight devices, though the number can go up to 40 in complex cases. In a cryptocurrency fraud investigation last year, she sifted through 100 digital wallets to track the primary suspect.

Cracking fingerprints: Shivangi Gupta

Shivangi Gupta, 27, has visited over 3,000 crime scenes in four years, specializing in fingerprint analysis—a crucial component in solving cases.

“Fingerprint analysis has its challenges, such as weather conditions,” she said.

She also deals with mixed fingerprints, where multiple people—sometimes panicked bystanders—leave behind their prints, making identification difficult.

“Sometimes, I find zero, at other times, 26,” she said. The analysis process can take up to three hours, requiring patience and precision.

A growing challenge she faces is how movies and TV shows "educate" criminals on ways to avoid leaving fingerprints, complicating investigations.

(With inputs from TOI)