Journal of Clinical Forensic Sciences

A signature is a handwritten representation of a person’s symbol, name, or even just a simple mark that they add to documents as evidence of their identity and intent. A signature writer is known as the writer or signer. The writing of a signature is important due to its use in authentication, validation and authorization of documents. A Signature is an important evidence for document examination. The signatures can be characteristics by using various classes and individual CharacteristicsClass characteristicsare common in writing and Individual characteristics are unique features of letters. Examination of control signature and fraud signature are compared based on characteristics. Signatures depend on general patterns andpersonal unique characteristics. Examiners focus on characteristics like initial and final Strokes, Slant, Alignment, Movement, Skill, Arc, Hook, Buckle, Loops, Spacing, and Staff to examine handwriting and signature.

The exponential growth of mobile applications has dramatically reshaped the global software ecosystem, with Android and iOS app stores acting as the primary gateways for billions of users worldwide. These platforms rely on extensive vetting mechanisms, such as Google’s Bouncer and Apple’s App Review Process, to detect and block malicious content before publication. However, a critical and increasingly exploited weakness has emerged the abuse of dynamic code updates and in-app updating mechanisms to deliver malicious payloads after an app’s approval. In this approach, attackers publish benign applications that pass all automated and manual inspections, but later inject harmful code through dynamic class loading (DCL), reflection, or hidden update APIs. Once activated, these components can steal sensitive data, escalate privileges, or enable remote control, all while appearing legitimate to users. Empirical research, including StaDynA2, StaDART1, and large-scale studies like Poeplau et al.4 and DyDroid5, has revealed the alarming prevalence of such mechanisms. Findings indicate that more than 80% of analyzed malware samples use reflection, while nearly 20% employ dynamic class loading to bypass static detection. These techniques exploit the limitations of traditional app store security, which ssumes code immutability after publication. Furthermore, manufacturer-level Android customizations exacerbate the risk: preinstalled, over privileged vendor apps and delayed security patch rollouts.

Background: Secret writing, or invisible writing, involves concealing messages so they remain unseen until revealed by specific techniques. It has been practiced since ancient times using both physical and chemical methods to ensure message confidentiality. Over time, secret communication evolved from early cipher tools such as the Spartan scytale to modern chemical-based invisible inks.Aim: The study aims to examine and compare forensic methods used to detect and decipher secret writings made with biological fluids, chemical substances, and fruit or vegetable juices on different types of paper substrates. Materials and Methods: A total of 180 samples were prepared using various invisible inks on three types of paper: bond paper, drawing paper, and A4 sheets. Each sample was developed using three principal visualization techniques heat exposure, ultraviolet (UV) illumination, and iodine fuming to reveal and compare the visibility of the concealed writings. Results: The experimental results showed that heat exposure and iodine fuming were more effective and sensitive than UV illumination in visualizing invisible inks, particularly those prepared from fruit juices and chemical reagents. The clarity and longevity of the developed writings varied with the type of ink, paper, and developing method used.Conclusion: Traditional development techniques like heat and iodine fuming remain highly reliable for detecting invisible writings when compared with UV illumination. Combining these conventional approaches with modern forensic techniques can significantly improve the accuracy and efficiency of detecting concealed messages

Forensic diatomology is a specialized branch of forensic science has ascertain the drowning cases for medico legal purpose. If any body of the deceased found in the water bodies i.e. river, Lake, Pond etc then the law enforcement agency police has to find out whether the person died due to drowning in water or someone killed him and threw him in the river. Diatom test is conducted in forensic science laboratory to find out. Diatoms are microscopic algae with silica based cell walls called frustule abundant in freshwater and marine environments; serve as crucial indicators for distinguishing between different water bodies. This omprehensive review explores the current state of forensic diatomology research, emphasizing its practical application in analysing water samples from diverse sources, including rivers, lakes, ponds, and coastal regions. The methodologies discussed range from light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to molecular techniques. The paper also delves into the significance of diatom taxonomy, ecology, and distribution in forensic investigations, addressing challenges and outlining future directions in the field. In drowning cases, diatoms provide valuable insights into antemortem and post-mortem evidence, aiding in the determination of geographical locations. As unicellular aquatic organisms representing a significant taxonomic division of phytoplankton, diatoms exhibit diversity influenced by geographical and environmental conditions, as well as the physicochemical properties of their habitat. The study further explores diatom diversity in various water bodies across

Background: Post-blast forensic analysis is a cornerstone of modern investigative science, assisting in reconstructing events, attributing responsibility, and presenting admissible evidence in court. Traditional colour spot tests, although rapid and cost-effective, suffer from low specificity and susceptibility to environmental factors, which limit their evidential value. Main body: This review explores the analytical advances in the detection of postblast residues, focusing on colour tests, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), ion chromatography (IC), identification of thermally decomposed PETN in GC-MS, and instrumental methods such as gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GCMS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Colour tests remain valuable for on-site presumptive screening but are prone to false positives. TLC provides confirmatory separation of nitroaromatics, peroxides, and oxidizers, while IC enables quantitative nitrate and anion analysis with high specificity, even in environmentally stressed samples. Thermal decomposition yields unique degradation signatures, particularly for PETN, rengthening the evidential value in improvised explosive device (IED) investigations. Extended column chromatography enhances TNT resolution in complex soil matrixes. Advanced spectrometric methods (GC–MS, LC–MS/MS) provide ultra-trace detection and forensic admissibility but require expertise and infrastructure. Environmental factors such as rainfall, soil composition, and pH significantly affect residue persistence, underscoring the importance of rapid, integrated forensic workflows. Comparative tables, schematic diagrams, and charts highlight the methodological strengths, weaknesses, and practical applications.

Fabricated and self-inflicted injuries are often encountered in medico legal practice. These injuries are usually produced to mislead investigating agencies, create false evidence, or support forged allegations. The present case highlights an instance where a fabricated injury was falsely alleged to be caused with firearm weapon, but medical examination revealed characteristics of an incised wound caused by a sharp-edged weapon, not by a projectile as alleged by the patient.

During explosion/bomb blast cases, extremely high temperatures are generated leading to subsequent burning of the entire area of the blast site. Specifically, when improvised explosive materials are used for causing blast, temperatures may rise to several thousand degrees Celsius. In such a scenario identification of the deceased individuals or perpetrators from the burnt materials becomes very difficult, as biological traces gets highly degraded and even contaminated with combustion residues and explosive by-products. In the present study, a complete short tandem repeat (STR) DNA Profile was generated from a burnt mobile phone recovered from the blast site using Human ID 31 STR DNA Amplification Kit (SYNTOL LLC, Russia). The successful profiling emonstrates the high sensitivity of the amplification kit and highlights its suitability for forensic applications.