Establishment of paternity in sexual offences crime registered under pocso act, 2012 from the sample of chorionic villi- a case study

DNA is present in most of the cells in our body, which is unique in each and everyindividual, and we leave a trail of it everywhere we go. This has become an advantagefor forensic investigators who use DNA to draw conclusion in identification of victimand accused in crime scenes. Chorionic villi are villi that sprout from the chorion to provide maximal contact area with maternal blood.They are an essential element in pregnancy from a histomorphology perspective, and are, by definition, a product of conception. Branches of the umbilical arteries carry embryonic blood to the villi. After circulating through the capillaries of the villi, blood returns to the embryo through the umbilical vein. Thus, villi are part of the border between maternal and foetal blood during pregnancy.Child sexual abuse is one of the major problems of India. In regard to this problem, a special law has been enacted named as Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) with a view to protect the rights of children. Undoubtedly, passing of this Act has been a major step in securing children’s right. In the present case a girl child of aged about 11 years was sexually abused by her school teacher. Upon arising of symptoms her mother doubted and asked the child about facts. Mother took her to the doctor where she tested positive for 9 weeks pregnancy, subsequently a FIR was lodged in a Mahila P.S of District. As it was not feasible to deliver in such a minor age, a legal abortion was carried out upon intervention of hon’ble trial court. The product of conceptus (Chorionic villi) along with reference blood samples of accused and victim were received in Forensic Science Laboratory, Bihar, Patna for establishing paternity. The DNA examiners team at FSL, Patna experienced first time such kind of sample and took it as a challenge. The sample of chorionic villi were subjected to DNA extraction using Automate DNA Extraction Prepfiler Express method and DNA from reference Blood Samples were extracted separately. The DNA were further subjected to Quantitation using 7500 RT PCR instrument and Quantifiler Duo amplification kit followed with 16 STR multiplexing using 9700 PCR machine and Identifiler plus amplification kit. The amplified DNA were subjected to 3130, 4-capillary Genetic Analyzer for fragment analysis.The conclusion revealed that the accused found to be biological father of the product of conceptus(chorionic villi) and upon submission of detailed report, the hon’ble trial court sentenced accused for Death Penalty.