First case, on 31st August 2019, a decomposed unknown body was found floating near Yamuna Riverbank, in front of Aali farm, Madanpur Khadar, New Delhi. The deceased was wearing a green half sleeves t-shirt and black track pants with one red shoe on the left foot. The body was then brought to AIIMS for post-mortem and an autopsy was conducted on 16th September 2019. As per our established protocol, phenotypic details of the deceased were noted and samples (tibia and teeth) were collected from the body after taking consent from the Investigating Officer. All the information regarding this case was uploaded on our database and the samples were processed for DNA extraction. The Phenol Chloroform Isoamyl Alcohol organic DNA extraction method was used, however, due to the decomposed condition of the corpse the DNA extracted was degraded and the downstream processing proved to be a challenge. In the meantime, a family approached the Investigating Officer claiming the deceased to be their son. The suspected parents of the deceased were brought to our department and the entire process of DNA identification was explained to them. Their consents were taken prior to sample collection and all the phenotypic details of the missing person they were claiming were recorded in a predesigned proforma. 2ml of blood was drawn from each of the suspected parents and their genotypes were generated from the DNA profiles obtained. Upon manual analysis of the profiles, a 100% match was observed between the profiles of the claimants and the deceased. The profiles of the claimants were also run through our DNA database and only one hit was observed, which was of the deceased they were claiming.
Second case, A PCR call was received at Kalkaji Police Station on 23rd January 2020, reporting an unknown male, lying unconscious, in front of Yes Bank, Chiranjivi Tower, Nehru Place, New Delhi. He was wearing a red colored sweater and a black pant. The person was brought to casualty at AIIMS Hospital, New Delhi, where he was declared brought dead on the same day. Autopsy of the deceased was conducted on 30th January 2020. As per our established protocol, phenotypic details of the deceased were noted and samples (tibia and tissue) were collected from the body after taking consent from the Investigating Officer. All the information regarding this case was uploaded on our database and the samples were processed for DNA extraction and STR analysis. On 20th February 2020, a female approached the Investigating Officer claiming the deceased to be her father. She was brought to our department and the entire process of DNA identification was explained to her. As per her suggestion, her brother was also called to help in the identification of the deceased. Their consents were taken prior to sample collection and all the phenotypic details of the missing person they were claiming were recorded in a predesigned proforma. 2ml of blood was drawn from both siblings and it was subject to DNA extraction using XpressDNA Blood kit (MagGenome Technologies). DNA was isolated in a few hours and soon after we proceeded for PCR amplification of the DNA sample of the claimants and the deceased. After generation of their genotypes, manual analysis showed a match between the profiles of the claimants and the deceased. The profiles of the claimants were also run through our DNA database and only one hit was observed, which was of the deceased they were claiming.