First case, on 31st August 2019, a decomposed unknown body was found floating near Yamuna Riverbank, in front of Aali farm, Madanpur Khadar, New Delhi. The deceased was wearing a green half sleeves t-shirt and black track pants with one red shoe on the left foot. The body was then brought to AIIMS for post-mortem and an autopsy was conducted on 16th September 2019. As per our established protocol, phenotypic details of the deceased were noted and samples (tibia and teeth) were collected from the body after taking consent from the Investigating Officer. All the information regarding this case was uploaded on our database and the samples were processed for DNA extraction. The Phenol Chloroform Isoamyl Alcohol organic DNA extraction method was used, however, due to the decomposed condition of the corpse the DNA extracted was degraded and the downstream processing proved to be a challenge. In the meantime, a family approached the Investigating Officer claiming the deceased to be their son. The suspected parents of the deceased were brought to our department and the entire process of DNA identification was explained to them. Their consents were taken prior to sample collection and all the phenotypic details of the missing person they were claiming were recorded in a predesigned proforma. 2ml of blood was drawn from each of the suspected parents and their genotypes were generated from the DNA profiles obtained. Upon manual analysis of the profiles, a 100% match was observed between the profiles of the claimants and the deceased. The profiles of the claimants were also run through our DNA database and only one hit was observed, which was of the deceased they were claiming.
Second case, A PCR call was received at Kalkaji Police Station on 23rd January 2020, reporting an unknown male, lying unconscious, in front of Yes Bank, Chiranjivi Tower, Nehru Place, New Delhi. He was wearing a red colored sweater and a black pant. The person was brought to casualty at AIIMS Hospital, New Delhi, where he was declared brought dead on the same day. Autopsy of the deceased was conducted on 30th January 2020. As per our established protocol, phenotypic details of the deceased were noted and samples (tibia and tissue) were collected from the body after taking consent from the Investigating Officer. All the information regarding this case was uploaded on our database and the samples were processed for DNA extraction and STR analysis. On 20th February 2020, a female approached the Investigating Officer claiming the deceased to be her father. She was brought to our department and the entire process of DNA identification was explained to her. As per her suggestion, her brother was also called to help in the identification of the deceased. Their consents were taken prior to sample collection and all the phenotypic details of the missing person they were claiming were recorded in a predesigned proforma. 2ml of blood was drawn from both siblings and it was subject to DNA extraction using XpressDNA Blood kit (MagGenome Technologies). DNA was isolated in a few hours and soon after we proceeded for PCR amplification of the DNA sample of the claimants and the deceased. After generation of their genotypes, manual analysis showed a match between the profiles of the claimants and the deceased. The profiles of the claimants were also run through our DNA database and only one hit was observed, which was of the deceased they were claiming.
Third Case, On April 30, 2025 at 06:30 am, an unknown male foetus was found lying still near G-2, Gali No. 18, Sangam Vihar, New Delhi. Then the body was brought to AIIMS Hospital, New Delhi where he was declared as brought dead on the same day. The autopsy was conducted on May 01, 2025. The possible phenotypic details were recorded in the Performa and the available biological samples were preserved after the consent taken from the Investigating Officer. The Phenotypic details of the case were recorded on the UMID Database as well. The Autopsy finding of the case signifies that the fetus was still born with the gestational age of 9 months and size of the fetus was 40cm. Then the concerned Investigating officer of the case approached us for conducting the STR profiling of the fetus with the Alleged Father and the Alleged Mother that were claiming to be the biological mother and father of the fetus. The informed consent from both the approached claimants were taken to collect the blood sample and the respective Performa was filled simultaneously. The STR Analysis was done for all the three samples i.e. Blood samples taken from the claimants and the Blood gauze from the fetus. The STR profiles were developed successfully for all the three samples and results were analysed. Based on the genotype data, The alleged mother was found to be the biological mother of the fetus.