Bihar Ramps Up Forensic Infrastructure After New Criminal Laws Take Effect
Bihar has significantly strengthened its forensic and digital evidence capabilities following the implementation of three new criminal laws. Additional Director General of the Crime Investigation Department Parasnath made this announcement on Monday.
Massive Backlog Cleared in 2025
Before July 1, 2024, state forensic laboratories faced a substantial backlog. They had 4,088 pending cases involving 16,800 exhibits. Separately, another 4,045 cases from before 2025 involved 37,047 pending exhibits.
The situation improved dramatically in 2025. Forensic laboratories completed examinations in 10,955 cases covering 56,511 exhibits. They provided all necessary reports to investigating agencies.
New Mandatory Forensic Provisions Drive Action
The implementation of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam created mandatory forensic requirements. Between July 1 and December 31, 2024, forensic officers conducted crime-scene inspections and collected evidence in 5,482 cases.
Current forensic staffing includes 44 gazetted officers and 85 senior scientific assistants. The recruitment process for 89 assistant directors and 100 senior scientific assistants is now in its final stages. Officials are verifying educational certificates and conducting medical examinations.
Infrastructure Expansion Across the State
The Forensic Science Laboratory is undergoing major infrastructure expansion. The Bihar Police Building Construction Corporation is constructing buildings for approved regional forensic laboratories.
FSL buildings have been completed in four districts:
- Purnia
- Gaya
- Saran
- Munger
Work at six remaining locations is accelerating. A proposal aims to operationalize regional forensic laboratories in 2026 at six locations: Purnia, Saran, Bettiah, Gaya, Saharsa and Munger.
Equipment Modernization and Specialized Facilities
For equipment modernization, authorities have sent a proposal worth approximately Rs 162 crore to the home department. This proposal has been submitted to the Union government for approval. It covers the Patna forensic laboratory, three existing regional labs, and six other regional labs.
The state has approved Rs 13.40 crore for procuring equipment to run the Rajgir and Purnia regional laboratories. Additional DNA testing capacity has been proposed through one extra unit for Patna and one unit each for Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur and Rajgir.
A proposal has also been submitted for a new advanced laboratory building complex in Patna. This complex would house the forensic lab, police laboratory, fingerprint bureau and photo bureau. It would be located in a CID-allotted colony under Shastri Nagar police station area.
Cyber Forensics and Mobile Units
Cyber forensic laboratories have been planned at two locations. The Bihar FSL in Patna will get one facility, and the regional lab in the Bihar Police Academy at Rajgir will receive another. These plans follow a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the National Forensic Sciences University in Gandhinagar on July 29, 2025.
Currently, 51 mobile forensic vehicles operate across 38 districts. Authorities have submitted a proposal of Rs 21.2 crore to purchase 50 additional mobile forensic vehicles. This expansion will enhance evidence collection capabilities throughout Bihar.
