Out of 4.76 crore pending cases in Indian courts, 3.65 crore are criminal cases (as per National Judicial Data Grid dated 24 Dec 2025). It shows that more than 76% of cases are criminal in nature, requiring diligent forensic analysis and examination of evidence and witnesses. Conventional laboratories, although technically competent, often operate under heavy backlogs and sequential workflows, resulting in report timelines that stretch into months. Such delays can slow investigative momentum, weaken early decision-making, and place additional pressure on the justice delivery system. All the more, the new age tools required by the forensics team have to undergo a tedious procurement process and also adhere to the L1 policy. This widening gap between the speed of crime and the speed of forensic response has led to a rethinking of how policing must be supported in a digital-first world.
A PPP Model for Embedded Forensic Support
Under this dark night situation, police in Gurgaon pioneered a solution through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The city’s Forensics and Monitoring Unit (FAM Unit), built in collaboration between law enforcement and a private forensic firm, represents a new model in India’s public safety architecture. The FAM Unit stalls specialised forensic capability within the investigative ecosystem for faster access to technical inputs and evidence while maintaining strict legal processes, chain-of-custody protocols, and evidence neutrality. This Unit supports investigators across digital and physical evidence space, including:
Digital Forensics
In modern policing, investigations increasingly hinge on what sits inside digital devices. To provide early access to reliable digital evidence, the digital forensics team conducts authorised examinations of mobile phones, computers, laptops, and CCTV DVR systems.
CCTV and Image Analytics
By technically enhancing CCTV footage and images, without altering the content, the unit improves clarity and sequencing, helping investigators identify suspects, vehicles, or timelines with greater efficiency.
Document, Signature, and Handwriting Analysis
Post examining signatures, handwriting, and related document elements to establish authenticity or inconsistency, findings are presented in structured reports designed for investigative and judicial use.
Fingerprint Analysis
Fingerprint comparison using established forensic protocols enables investigators to corroborate identity-linked evidence, reinforcing the integrity of broader investigations.
Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)
Publicly available information to support subject identification and background checks for individuals and organisations is analysed. This includes digital footprint analysis, litigation and regulatory checks, and social media review, with intelligence reports delivered to investigators in a timely and legally compliant manner.
Morph Image Analysis
Identification of potential alterations in visual material is done through morph image analysis. This helps investigators assess the reliability of images where authenticity is central to a case.
From Post-Facto Forensics to Embedded Investigative Support
Increasingly, investigators require forensic clarity at the outset of a case. From verifying documents and extracting mobile data to enhancing CCTV footage and mapping digital identities, early forensic intervention often determines whether a case progresses decisively or drifts into prolonged inquiry.
Instead of operating on the sidelines, through the FAM unit approach, forensic specialists work alongside investigators while adhering to strict legal process, chain-of-custody requirements, and evidentiary neutrality. Between August 2024 and November 2025, the unit assisted in more than 1,500 investigations, reflecting both operational scale and growing institutional trust now placed in forensic capability.
Speed as a Force Multiplier
What fundamentally differentiates the FAM Unit from traditional forensic laboratories is its ability to compress investigative timelines without compromising evidentiary rigour.
- Digital Forensics Within Days, Not Months: By utilizing in-house infrastructure, trained specialists, parallel processing workflows, and real-time case coordination with investigators and parallel processing, the unit delivers actionable digital forensic reports within four working days, in contrast to conventional labs, which may take six months or more. Early access to validated digital evidence helps refine hypotheses, prioritise suspects, and prevent loss of perishable leads.
- Document Analysis in 48 Hours: Signature and handwriting verifications, often central in fraud and impersonation cases, are completed within two working days, providing immediate clarity that can escalate, de-escalate, or redirect an investigation.
- Live Video and CCTV Forensics: Moving away from isolated video analysis, the unit integrates the participation of Investigating Officers into live CCTV and video review sessions. This collaboration ensures contextualised sequencing, targeted enhancement, and real-time alignment with case narratives. Importantly, the technical team refrains from subjective interpretation, thereby preserving evidentiary neutrality and court admissibility.
