GAP INDIAN JOURNAL OF FORENSICS AND BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES ( ISSN – 2582-8177 ) Globally peer-reviewed and open access journal. Volume III Issue I January – June 2022 14 https://www.gapijfbs.org/ REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER’S INQUIRY ON A NEWLY-WED WOMAN’S DISPUTED DEATH: TOE IMPRESSION INDICATED THE CAUSE OF DEATH – A REAL CRIME SCENE REPORT Nataraja Moorthy T, Nadiah Syariani M, Sivadurai SN, Saravanan K Corresponding author and Professor of Forensic Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (FHLS), Management and Science University (MSU), Section 13, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Formerly Government Forensic Crime Scene Investigator, Forensic Sciences Department, Government of Tamilnadu, India. Forensic Lecturer, FHLS, Management and Science University, Section 13, Shah Alam, Malaysia. Sivadurai, Asst Director, Mobile Forensic Science Lab, Forensic Sciences Department, Government of Tamilnadu, India. Supdt. of Police and Asst Director, NCB/ INTERPOL, Royal Malaysia Police, Federal Government of Malaysia Abstract Background: Suicide is the way of ending one’s own life. The method of suicide varies from country to country and common methods include hanging, poisoning, self-immolation and so on. In India the suicide rate of females is higher than males and many married women have been committing suicide for many reasons. The Indian legal system has taken steps to address this concern on married women by incorporating section of law which identify and punish the abettor. Under section 174(3) CrPC (Death of a woman within seven years of marriage), the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) should conduct an inquiry to determine the reason if any dowry harassment by husband and/or in- laws, behind the death of that married woman. During my forensic crime scene investigation career in India (1979- 2003), RDO used to request Forensic Crime Scene Investigator (FCSI), Mobile Forensic Science Laboratory (MFSL), in such inquiries and to visit such death scenes and assist the investigation forensically and arrive the conclusion. One such indoor death scene, the author had visited and assisted the RDO, is presented herewith. Gist of the case: A woman aged 22 years old, married two years before found hanging in her house with feet touched the floor. The woman’s father had lodged a complaint that her daughter was murdered by her husband and made her hang. The Inspector of Police arrived the scene and registered an FIR (First information report) under section 174(3) CrPC and informed the RDO. The RDO advised the Police Inspector to inform the forensic crime scene investigator to visit and assist the investigation forensically. Crime Scene Observation: The FCSI, also the corresponding author (TN) who immediately arrived the scene along with the Revenue officials made careful observations. On detailed examination of the scene and dead body, TN explained the RDO about the death scene and forensic findings. Conclusion: The author finally concluded that the death was due to suicidal hanging, based on the presence of toe impressions with other evidence. Keywords: Crime Scene Investigation, Married Woman, Hanging, Alleged Homicide, RDO Inquiry INTRODUCTION In the modern world, Forensic can be used not only to investigate crime scenes like homicide, burglary, sexual assault, fires and bomb blasts, but also non-crime doing civil wrongs such as willful pollution of air or water or causing industrial injuries [1] . Forensic is an important tool in any investigation and crime scene is the starting point of Forensic Science. All sciences can contribute to solve the crime and hence almost any sciences can be a forensic science [2] . Forensic investigation is based on the evidence found and located at the crime scenes since criminals always leave evidence either from the body in the form of impressions like finger impressions, foot/toe impression and from their belongings like tools to create tool impressions and so on [3] . Careful analysis of physical evidence can be used to establishing the guilt or innocence of somebody on court trials. Researchers have established that foot impressions are used to estimate stature [4] , body weight [5] and gender [6] . Whenever dealing with dead bodies in crime scenes, the Field Criminalists or Forensic Scientists need to face challenges since the body position may cause confusion or complication to decide the cause of death. Hanging or self- suspension is a form of ligature strangulation where the pressure is produced by the weight of the body itself [7] . Suicide is the way of ending one’s own life. The method of suicide varies from country to country and common methods include hanging, poisoning, firearms, self-immolation and so on. In India the suicide rate of females is comparatively higher than males and many married women have been committing suicide for many reasons.