Investigation - CBI forensics halted as lab chemicals old

Much of the inves tigation work done in the CBI’s forensic laboratory has come to a standstill since most chemicals kept in its ballistics division are past their expiry date. Ballistics work involves examination of firearms, explosives (including RDX) and detonators to determine the nature of an explosion and type of weapons used in a crime, the range of fire, linking bullets with arms, cartridge cases and checking of weapons for evidence.

An investigation by this newspaper has established that the chemicals which have crossed their expiry date include ammonium acetate, arsenic sulphide, benzene, ethyl acetate, among others. These chemicals are used for laboratory examinations. The work also involves studying and giving expert opinions on the nature of explosives (civil, military and IEDs).

Two bottles of ammonium acetate kept inside the bal listics division are of no use as they are already past their expiry dates — July 4, 2008 and November 18, 2008 respectively. The supply of Benedict’s solution, another key ingredient, also cannot be used as its November 4, 2008 expiry date is over. There is no fresh stock of this available, and scientists at the ballistics division refused to comment.

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