International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) Volume 4 Issue 4, June 2020 Available Online: www.ijtsrd.com e-ISSN: 2456 – 6470 @ IJTSRD | Unique Paper ID – IJTSRD31013 | Volume – 4 | Issue – 4 | May-June 2020 Page 437 Medico Legal Importance of Questioned Documents in Crime Investigation Dr. Theju Kumar C Assistant Professor, Department of Criminology, Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies, Soladevanahalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India ABSTRACT Forensic handwriting examination has a new frontier: the digital signature in biometric modality that uses, for recognition purposes, the anatomic and behavioral characteristics that an individual exhibit when signing her/his name. Data such as the dynamically captured direction, stroke, distance, size, pressure and shape of an individual’s signature enable handwriting to be a reliable indicator of an indivudul’s identity. “Namirial” is an Italian company that created a biometric signature system named “GrafoCerta” (sure signature) that has a forensic sector particularly suitable for research. In this paper the researcher will try to explain the different characteristics of handwriting examination and examination of questioned document. KEYWORDS: Document, Characteristics, Handwriting, Forensic How to cite this paper: Dr. Theju Kumar C "Medico Legal Importance of Questioned Documents in Crime Investigation" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456- 6470, Volume-4 | Issue-4, June 2020, pp.437-440, URL: www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd31013.pdf Copyright © 2020 by author(s) and International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development Journal. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by /4.0) INTRODUCTION The examination of questioned documents covers many areas of investigation, including verifying handwriting and signatures; authenticating documents; characterizing papers, pigments, and inks used in writing instruments and copying machines; restoring erased and obliterated writing; and even determining the relative age of documents and inks. Why would anyone be concerned about a piece of paper? Believe it or not, paper is involved in most crimes—perhaps directly, as with a ransom note in a kidnapping or a forged signature on a check; perhaps indirectly, as with business records in a drug operation or a receipt for a car rental or medical prescription. The document examiner’s tools are the stereomicroscope, templates, protractors, grids, and other measurement devices. The examiner may use different types of light sources to detect forgeries, changes & obliterations. Questioned Document Questioned Document can be a handwriting, signature, mark or any handwritten/typewritten document whose reliability or source is doubtful. Questioned Document Examination generally involves handwriting examination in case of handwritten documents. Main Objectives of forensic questioned document is : 1. That an expert analyst individualize handwriting to a particular person(Suspect 2. What types of evidence are submitted to the document analyst (is it cross cheq, forgery document, wills, or etc) 3. How to characterize different types of paper 4. The types and impact of computer crime Characteristics of Hand writing: Handwriting is writing done by hand with a pen, pencil, digital stylus, or another instrument. The art, skill, or manner of handwriting is called penmanship. Handwriting in which successive letters are joined is called cursive script. Handwriting in which the letters are separated (as block letters) is called manuscript style or printing. Decorative handwriting (as well as the art of producing decorative handwriting) is called calligraphy. Analysis of Handwriting and Handprinting Uniqueness Each person has their own unique style of handwriting, whether it is everyday handwriting or their personal signature. Even identical twins who share appearance and genetics do not have the same handwriting. The place where one grows up and the first language one learns melt together IJTSRD31013