Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a new building of the Central Forensic Science Lab (CFSL) at Rajarhat in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district and said it was a significant step towards building a data- and evidence-based justice system in eastern India.
“It is a significant step towards building a data and evidence-based justice system in India. The state-of-the-art facility, built at an approximate cost of Rs 90 crore, is poised to serve not only West Bengal but also all North Eastern states, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, and Assam, handling complex cases from across the cluster,” he said.
Addressing the gathering, Shah talked about the pivotal role of forensic science in the modern criminal justice system, especially with the introduction of the three new criminal laws.
“The new laws have laid special emphasis on evidence, documents, forensic science, and punishment of the guilty based on them,” he said. “This FSL will play a special role in explaining their importance, implementing them, and delivering the right evidence to the specific police station.”
The home minister also spoke about the central government’s vision of creating a nationwide network of forensic science labs, serving clusters of three or four states. He announced that the Ministry of Home Affairs would dedicate the next one to two years to developing the overall infrastructure and training for this initiative.
“A nationwide campaign to disseminate forensic information to police stations is set to commence from January 2026, aiming to fully inform the country’s criminal justice system. This enhanced forensic infrastructure would significantly streamline and expedite the investigation process, leaving no room for doubt and ensuring that the guilty are punished and the aggrieved receive justice,” he said.
Shah urged all police stations, courts, and public prosecutors to understand and utilise the new system to its full potential, facilitating scientific conclusions in complex cases with expert assistance. The new Rajarhat CFSL building will house facilities for various forensic disciplines, including biology, serology, DNA testing, narcotics, chemistry, computer science, psychology, and physics, ensuring comprehensive expert support.
Shah stressed the importance of staying “two steps ahead” of criminals, especially with financial transactions, communication, and identity increasingly moving online. He cited examples of how DNA identification has solved decades-old cases and how mobile forensics, call data, apps, and psychological profiling are aiding in uncovering the source of crimes.
“Our criminal justice system is moving in a new direction,” he added.
Shah also used the platform to mention the recently enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), stating that these laws were made by the elected government for the people of India, replacing 160-year-old British-era legislation.