Unmasking the Truth: Crime scene to DNAProfiling in Forensic Identity Resolution-A caseStudy

A severely burnt dead body was discovered in a cave-like area near Jaipur, Rajasthan (India), under suspicious circumstances. Physical evidence found at the crime scene initially suggested that the deceased might be a person named Ramcharan. However, his close friend Shambhu had also been reported missing around the same time, raising doubts about the true identity of the victim. Due to the extent of the burns, visual identification was not possible. To establish the identity, DNA profiling was conducted by comparing the genetic material from the body with reference samples from the parents of both Ramcharan and Shambhu. The analysis revealed a match with Shambhu’s parents, confirming the body to be his. This case highlights the crucial role of DNA testing in forensic investigations, particularly when traditional identification methods are not viable.