The CBI has sought the help of the USA’s premier investigating agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to forensically examine the ashes and teeth of Bhanwari Devi, which were recovered earlier this week from near Jodhpur in Rajasthan.
Sources said the need for the FBI’s help was felt as it has the most advanced forensic lab in the world and Indian labs are not equipped to extract detailed forensic information like the DNA details from human remains after they have been burnt.
According to sources, the forensic examination of the ashes and teeth will establish whether it belongs to Bhanwari Devi or not. The agency recently recovered key material evidence, including Bhanwari’s personal belongings — watch and jewellery — from Rajiv Gandhi canal near Jodhpur. Other things which have been recovered include a gunny bag, a wrist watch, a toe ring, nose pin, broken pieces of jewellery (including a pendant), charred bone pieces, five teeth, a wooden bat and two country-made pistols apart from some clothes (which reportedly belong to accused Kailash Jakhar).
“The agency has already collected sufficient evidence in the case. The CBI officials have also recorded statement of Farooq, Bhanwari’s driver, under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which will be considered as evidence in the court of law,” sources said.
The evidence, collected so far, are sufficient to file final report in the case, sources said adding that the the forensic examination of teeth and ashes will further strengthen the CBI’s case.