Sarita Vihar Double Murder: How FSL Forensic Investigation Is Decoding the Hidden Crime Scene in Delhi
In a gruesome double murder that has shaken the national capital, a 35-year-old woman and her six-year-old daughter were found dead inside their residence in Aali Vihar, Sarita Vihar, with their bodies concealed in a bed storage box. The calculated concealment indicates a deliberate attempt to delay detection and destroy crucial evidence.
With no immediate eyewitnesses and the crime occurring inside a closed environment, forensic science has emerged as the central pillar of the investigation.
Immediate Crime Scene Control & FSL Deployment
After the discovery of the bodies, Delhi Police secured the premises and summoned the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) crime scene unit. A systematic and scientific examination of the house was conducted to ensure that no biological, physical, or trace evidence was lost.
Primary Forensic Actions at the Scene
- High-resolution crime scene photography and videography
- Scientific evidence mapping and rough sketch preparation
- Collection of blood traces and body fluid samples
- Recovery of hair, epithelial cells, and nail scrapings
- Lifting of latent fingerprints from furniture and storage surfaces
- Seizure of bedding, clothing, and suspected ligature material
- Trace evidence collection including fibres and foreign particles
The concealment of the bodies makes micro-trace recovery and contact evidence extremely significant under Locard’s Exchange Principle.
Preliminary Post-Mortem Findings
Initial medical examination indicates death due to asphyxia, with suspected strangulation and smothering. However, the final opinion will depend on detailed autopsy findings.
Key Medical Parameters Under Examination
- Condition of the hyoid bone
- Neck muscle haemorrhage
- Petechial haemorrhages
- Internal injury patterns
- Viscera analysis to rule out poisoning or sedation
Estimation of the time since death will be crucial in correlating suspect movement, digital records, CCTV footage, and witness accounts.
Laboratory Examination in Progress
DNA Profiling
- Detection of foreign DNA
- Victim–accused physical contact confirmation
- Skin cell recovery from nail scrapings
Serological Analysis
- Blood group determination
- Detection of cleaned bloodstains using chemical enhancement techniques
Fingerprint Examination
- Database comparison
- Suspect identification or elimination
Trace Evidence Analysis
- Fibre comparison
- Hair examination
- Transfer evidence linkage
Investigative Angle
Police investigation indicates that a neighbour is the prime suspect and is currently absconding, with a possible personal motive linked to rejected advances.
In indoor homicide cases, forensic evidence often becomes the most reliable silent witness.
Forensic Importance of Body Concealment
Hiding the bodies inside a confined storage space suggests an attempt to delay detection and possibly clean the crime scene. This helps forensic experts determine the sequence of events, post-mortem movement of the bodies, and whether the accused acted alone.
- Increased chances of touch DNA recovery
- Compression artefacts on the body
- Transfer evidence linking suspect to the scene
Why This Case Matters for Forensic Investigation in Delhi
- Highlights the critical role of FSL in modern homicide investigation
- Demonstrates the importance of scientific evidence in closed-room murders
- Shows the evidentiary value of trace and touch DNA
- Integration of medical jurisprudence with crime scene science
What Happens Next?
The investigation now depends on the final post-mortem report, DNA results, fingerprint matches, and CCTV correlation. These findings will scientifically establish the exact cause and manner of death, time of death, and the presence of the accused at the crime scene.
Forensic Expert’s Insight
This is a classic concealed-body indoor double homicide where Locard’s Exchange Principle, touch DNA, and detailed asphyxial markers will play a decisive role. Even when offenders attempt to erase the crime, forensic science reconstructs the silent sequence of events.
Editorial Note – Budding Forensic Expert
The Sarita Vihar double murder once again proves that scientific investigation is the backbone of criminal justice. Where human witnesses are absent, forensic evidence speaks — objectively, silently, and powerfully.
