Bengaluru: Karnataka has taken a major step towards strengthening scientific crime investigation with the launch of 32 Mobile Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs) and 75 new police patrol vehicles, aimed at improving evidence collection and accelerating criminal investigations across the state.
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar flagged off the new fleet from the steps of Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Saturday, marking a significant upgrade to the state’s policing and forensic infrastructure.
Mobile forensic labs to reach crime scenes faster
The newly introduced mobile forensic laboratories are designed as fully equipped mini-labs on wheels, enabling Scene of Crime Officers (SOCOs) to reach crime scenes quickly and preserve crucial evidence before it is contaminated or lost.
Officials said the deployment of these vans across district police units is expected to improve the quality of investigations while reducing delays in forensic examinations.
Equipped to investigate cybercrime and serious offences
According to police officials, each mobile lab is equipped with advanced tools to investigate a wide range of crimes, including murder, sexual offences, narcotics cases, explosions, arson and cybercrime.
The vehicles carry specialised kits for DNA evidence collection, blood and semen detection, fingerprint and footprint analysis, digital forensic examination, and cybercrime investigation. They are also fitted with generators, refrigerators for preserving biological samples, laptops, field printers, microscopes and crime scene protection equipment.
Government aims for faster justice
Speaking at the launch, Home Minister Priyank Kharge said scientific evidence plays a crucial role in modern criminal justice and helps ensure that offenders are convicted while innocent people are protected.
He said taking forensic capabilities directly to crime scenes would enable immediate preservation and preliminary examination of vital evidence, leading to stronger investigations and quicker case disposal.
The government is also upgrading regional Forensic Science Laboratories in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Belagavi and Kalaburagi with additional personnel and advanced equipment to further enhance the state’s forensic capabilities.
The initiative is expected to strengthen Karnataka Police’s investigative efficiency while supporting faster and more reliable criminal justice delivery.