In a landmark application of forensic science, the Delhi Police has cracked a murder case by employing gait analysis for the first time. The technique proved crucial in pinning the accused in the killing of a 32-year-old UPSC aspirant in North Delhi's Timarpur area last October.
The Gruesome Crime and Initial Cover-Up
Ram Kesh Meena, the victim, was allegedly murdered by his live-in partner, Amrita Chauhan, her former boyfriend Sumit Kashyap, and an accomplice named Sandeep Kumar. According to the police probe, the motive stemmed from Meena's refusal to delete intimate videos of the couple. Amrita, upset by this, conspired with Sumit to eliminate him.
The crime unfolded on October 5. The victim was first assaulted and then strangled using a phone charging cable. In a bid to disguise the murder, the accused set his body on fire using petrol, making it appear like a death in an accidental house fire. They left the premises in the early hours of October 6. However, the autopsy report revealed the truth, highlighting injuries that confirmed he was killed before being set ablaze. The report indicated the victim was likely alive or unconscious when set on fire.
Forensic Breakthrough with Gait Pattern Analysis
During the investigation, led by Inspector Pankaj Tomar and his team from Timarpur police station, officers collected CCTV footage from five different locations. To conclusively identify the suspects seen in the footage, the police turned to an advanced forensic tool: gait analysis.
Specialist experts from Gujarat were called to Delhi to assist. The process involved a systematic study of the suspects' walking patterns. Forensic experts examine unique characteristics like the movement of feet and hands, stride length, and the complete gait cycle. The investigators compared the CCTV footage from around the crime scene with a recreated video of the suspects, using specialised computer software for a side-by-side analysis. This comparison provided key evidence linking the accused to the scene.
Mounting Evidence and a Detailed Chargesheet
The police have filed an 813-page chargesheet in the Tis Hazari court, though the court is yet to take cognizance of it. The document outlines a pre-planned murder. The accused had even rented a house in South Delhi's Chattarpur as a hideout after the crime.
Other significant evidence includes the examination of a burnt air conditioner by company technicians. Their inspection ruled out the possibility of the fire starting from the AC unit, as the compressor was found intact with no leakage, further dismantling the accused's accidental death narrative. The investigation also relied on digital evidence, noting that Amrita coordinated with the other accused via Instagram, informing them when Meena was home. A total of 55 witnesses were questioned during the probe.
Police officials expressed confidence, stating they have sufficient evidence on record to ensure a conviction. This case marks a significant step in the adoption of sophisticated forensic techniques like gait analysis by the Delhi Police, following its use in other high-profile cases like the Saki Naka rape-murder in Mumbai and the Rameshwaram Café blast probe in Bengaluru.
