DOCUMENT

• a piece of written, printed or electronic matter

that provide information or evidence or that
serves as an official record
 DOCUMENT
• Section 3 of Indian Evidence Act “Document”
means any matter expressed or described
upon any substance by means of letters,
figures or marks, or by more than one of those
means, intended to be used, or which may be
used, for the purpose of recording that matter
 DOCUMENT
• Section 29 of Indian Penal Code “Document”
denotes any matter expressed or described
upon any substance by means of letters,
figures, or marks, or by more than one of
those means, intended to be used, or which
may be used, as evidence of that matter
 DOCUMENT
• world of business and other activities -
transactions takes in written or printed
materials in forms of documents-occupy vital
role society
• alternation document are on rise - documents
subjected analysis
• analysis is examination and comparison of
questioned documents with known materials
 DOCUMENT
• document that has signature, handwriting,
typing or other written marks whose source or
authenticity is in doubt, dispute or uncertain is
referred as a questioned document - include
writing or other marking found on walls
windows, doors or any other objects
 DOCUMENT
• cheques, certificate, will, passports, licenses,
money, letters, contracts, sale deeds, suicide
notes, receipts - questioned documents
encountered for forensic examination
 DOCUMENT
• Nature of problems of questioned documents
⮚ identification of handwriting and evaluation
⮚ identification of signatures and detection of
forgery
⮚ examination of writing material – pen, paper,
ink etc.
⮚ evaluation of erasures, alternations, addition
and obliterations
⮚ to determine order and age of writing
 DOCUMENT
⮚ decipherment of indented and charred
documents
⮚ evaluation of typescript
• involves evaluation of documents disputed in
legal system conducted by forensic document
examiners
• document examined is known as questioned
document and examination involve scientific
examination, comparison and analysis of
document with known samples which are
obtained from any number of known sources
to a set of known standards
• is based on various attributes and
characteristics such as creation, date of
creation, material, paper, ink, writing tools,
machines, stamps, seals, invisible impressions,
indented impressions, printing processes,
security and identity, alternations,
obliterations, erasures, page substitutions and
handwriting
• Forensic examiners are mostly requested to
resolve the authorship – signature
• initial examination is done by observation
using lighting, magnification and other
equipment
• after initial examination comparison is done
side by side to determine whether there are
differences, similarities, or absent
characteristics
• indented impressions are invisible to naked
eyes and are detected by Electrostatic
Detection Device
• any changes that are not visible to the naked
eye can be detected using photography and
Ultra Violet/InfraRed imaging devices
• ink testing can be carried out by Video
Spectral Comparator using radiations of
different wavelengths - depending on the type
of ink, the light may absorb, reflect, absorb
and re-emit at a higher wavelength
• detection of alterations, deletions and
erasures may be observed with specialized
equipment, magnification, and various lighting
techniques
 HANDWRITING
• handwriting unique personalized-acquired

• most obvious feature writing of layman is its

general style
 HANDWRITING
• initial stages accompany learning and practice
of writing are characterized by a conscious
effort on part of children to copy standard
letters forms or style shown-initially many
beginners writing style is similar with minor
variance
• child practices, proficiency of writing skills
improves and act of writing becomes
subconscious
 HANDWRITING
• course time writing takes innumerable shapes
and patterns that distinguishes from all others

• unconscious handwriting of two different

individuals can never be duplicated
• everyone’s handwriting exhibits natural
variations depending on several factors
 HANDWRITING
• variations are expected in angularity, slope,
speed pressure, letter and spacing, relative
dimension of letters, connections, pen
movement, writing skill and finger dexterity
 HANDWRITING
• Certain personal habits such as margins,
spacing, crowding, insertion, alignment,
spelling, punctuations and grammar can also
enable to individualize writer
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
HANDWRITING
• problem involving authorship of handwriting
all characteristics of both known, questioned
documents must be considered and compared
• no single handwriting characteristics can itself
be taken as basis for a positive comparison
• final conclusion must be based on a sufficient
number of common characteristics between
known and questioned writing
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
HANDWRITING
• person’s handwriting exhibits unique
characteristics that make it distinguishable
from others. The individual characteristics
comprises of pen pressure, shading, pen
pauses, pen lifts, starting and ending strokes,
pausing, decoration, placing, slope, size,
retouching etc
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
HANDWRITING
• factors such mechanical, age, time span,
health, mental health, drugs and medication,
alcohol and drug abuse, accidentals and
tremors cause changes in handwriting
 PRINCIPLES OF
HANDWRITING
• individual handwriting is based on the
copybook of his initial learning.
• act of writing is a skill acquired through
repetition until it becomes habit.
• progression of handwriting habits are
subconscious and every person in course of
time develops unique style of writing
 PRINCIPLES OF
HANDWRITING
• individual characteristics and natural
variations that are unique to a particular
writer enables to distinguish handwriting of
persons
• every handwriting has individuality hence no
two handwriting are exactly alike.
• person’s handwriting changes over course of
lifetime
 PRINCIPLES OF
HANDWRITING
• no fundamental alteration in questioned and
sample writing to be found, if written by same
person
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
HANDWRITING
• Forensic handwriting investigation is
pattern-based science that identifies and
examines significant handwriting
characteristics in questioned writing by
comparing and evaluating characteristics
in known writing to determine authorship
using variety of scientific methods and
protocols
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
HANDWRITING
• forensic handwriting experts examines
exemplars of questionable writing to those of
a known writing - best exemplars are letters,
diaries, greeting cards or personal notes
• exemplars comprises of twelve major
categories which include letter forms, line
forms and formation
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
HANDWRITING
• letter forms include shape, curve, angle or
slant, proportional size, and use and
appearance of connecting lines between
letters
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
HANDWRITING
• line form includes the smoothness, darkness
of on line upward compared to downward
stroke
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
HANDWRITING
• line form is influenced by speed and pressure
exerting while writing
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
HANDWRITING
• formatting includes spacing, between letters
words and lines, placement of words on line,
margin a writer-leaves on empty page
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
HANDWRITING
• obtained exemplars should contain several of
words or letters combination found in
questioned document
• experts determine which characteristics are
valuable for drawing a conclusion about
authenticity and authorship of questioned
handwriting
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
HANDWRITING
• initial comparisons of handwriting are done
with naked eye, handheld lens or a
microscope
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
HANDWRITING
• next it is compared side by side to determine
specific habits, characteristics, and
individualities of both questioned document
and known sample for similarities and
differences
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
HANDWRITING
• At present more advanced technology is
available to assist handwriting expert with
more technical aspects
• specialized equipment can reveal minor
details about how a handwriting was altered
• chromatography is used for separating
components of ink
• infrared spectroscope can determine if more
than one kind of ink was used in handwriting
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
HANDWRITING
• biometric signature pad enables for more
accurate analysis of handwriting - pad learns
to recognize how a person sign name based
on speed, pressure and rhythm of signing
• computerized analyses of handwriting are
more objective than analysis of an individual
expert
• suspects signature can be compared with ones
stored in database
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
HANDWRITING
• Three-dimensional holograms technique is
used to analyze handwriting samples that
exposes writing characteristics that forgers
can't fake
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
HANDWRITING
• 3 D method may prove to be most powerful
tool in identifying fraudulent signatures on
cheques and other legal documents

• The bump in this 3D image indicates that the "S" line was
drawn after the "F" line
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
HANDWRITING
• difference between standard and questioned
document - different authors

• Initial comparisons document are done with

naked eye, handheld lens or a microscope
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
HANDWRITING
• present advanced technology-Specialized
equipment

• Infrared spectroscope can determine if more

than one kind of ink was used
• Biometric signature pad enables for more
accurate analysis of handwriting
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
HANDWRITING
• Computerized analyses handwriting are more
objective than analysis of an individual expert

• technological advances have greatly enhanced

the detection of forged documents
• identification of signature involves the similar
principles those of general handwriting
• signature is a combined result of cumulative
effect of a number of factors such as muscular
control, coordination, health, age, frequency
of writing, temperament
• the questioned signature tallies with standard
in all its characteristics aspects then it can be
concluded that the signatures are of same
person

• questioned signature tallies with standard in

all its characteristics aspects then it can be
concluded that signatures are of same person
• process used by criminal to make, alter or
falsify a person signature or another aspect of
a document with intent to deceive another
• primary purpose of forgery is profit from
falsification or alteration
• When material gain of such money
accompanies forgery is called fraudulence
 TYPES OF FORGERY
• Freehand or Simulated forgery and Traced forgery
• one which the forger tries to imitate the
handwriting of another person by copying from
the model or by keeping the model in mind-copy
or imitate forgery
• simulated forgery is never perfect. In this the
forgerer draws the signature. Examination of such
forgery reveals frequent pen pauses, pen lifts,
hesitant marks, and shading at some places. The
overall line quality will be poor
 TYPES OF FORGERY
• Examination of such forgery reveals frequent
pen pauses, pen lifts, hesitant marks, and
shading at some places
• overall line quality will be poor
• Traced forgery-carried out by tracing from an
available model
• Determine-signature question super imposed
over strong light-exact super imposition is a
proof
COMMON METHODS OF TRACING
• Carbon Paper tracing
• Indented tracing
• Tracing paper forgery
• Transmitted light
• Digital scanning
TRAITS RELATING TO ERASERS,
ADDITIONS, ALTERATION,
OBLITERATIONS AND AGE OF
DOCUMENT
 Erasers
• common means to alter document is to try to
erase parts through chemical and mechanical
means
• Chemical erasers-chlorine or bromine water
and sulphurous acid decolorize the writing
• inks are soluble like water alcohol and acetone
• Detergents may be use to remove carbon inks
• Ultraviolet radiations, infrared luminescence-
reveals original writing or also identify site of
chemical of chemical eraser
 Erasers
• Mechanical erasers-done using rubber eraser,
sand paper, razor blade or knife to remove
writing or type by branding or scaring paper
surface
• disturbs the upper fibers of the paper-visible
• Lycopodium powder, when dusted over page,
clings to and exposes tiny rubber particles and
eraser fragments that invariably remain after
erasers
 Alterations
• Overwriting or mending of existing writing
alters document
• erase and rewrite the portions of documents
• simple alterations detected magnification
• stereoscopic binocular microscope enable
apparent alterations
• common alterations are simple overwriting or
change of numerals as 1 to 0, 0 to 9, additions
 Additions
• Documents can also be altered by of additions
• Additions can be visualized
⮚ When it is written with different pen or ink,
⮚ When it is added by different writer,
⮚ By crowding or abnormal spacing which is
apparent and was not a part of original,
⮚ Detectable difference in the age of writing.
 Obliterations
• effective destruction of appearance writing
without actually removing it or rendering it
invisible
• common method is overwriting or crossing
with pen, pencil or by spreading dark fluid
• deciphered by examination under strong light
a various angles
• video spectral comparator equipment
 AGE OF DOCUMENT
• no method to find out age document with
scientific accuracy
• roughly estimated by using content of the
documents, paper, ink, typewriting, printed
matter, handwriting and the technique,
signatures marks, stamps, rubber stamps,
envelopes
• cannot be older than the age of the paper
 AGE OF DOCUMENT
• chemical analysis of paper and ink can provide
a direct estimation age document
• 'spread' of ink into the paper fibers could also
be used to infer the date the document was
written or typed
• documents is typed then-font, shape,
distinguishing characteristics of typewriter can
be inferred from shape and other geometric
features of the text
 AGE OF DOCUMENT
• language content analysis of the document
could provide clues to the date
• forensic techniques can only provide a rough
guess of the document age
 TYPESCRIPTS
• common mechanical depiction document is of
typewriter
• no two typewriters give identical script in spite
being manufacture in the same factory
• every typewriter has individuality
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
TYPEWRITER
• method of associating a particular type writer
with typewritten document requires
comparison of questioned document to
exemplars prepared from suspect’s typewriter
• examination of typewritten document is based
on the similar principle and methods that of
handwriting
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
TYPEWRITER
• to identify the machine the expert’s examine
⮚ The size and shape of the letter,
⮚ Uneven impression of typeface, usually
varying from top to bottom,
⮚ Defect in slant and alignment of particular
letter
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
TYPEWRITER
⮚ Mechanical defect like overlapping.
• typist details that are taken in consideration
⮚ Mistakes in language, grammar, punctuation
etc.
⮚ Personal peculiarities such as hard, light,
uneven, touch marginal spacing etc.
 PRINTED MATTER
• term to describe printed material by various
mechanical processes produced by printers or
publishers such as books, magazines, booklets,
brochures and other publicity materials
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
PRINTER MATERIAL
• published illegally infringing the copyrights-
identify the printing press
• Every printed matter has class characteristics
according to design and specifications of types
used in printing
• script has individual characteristics which can
be visualized when comes into existence as a
result of defective setting, arrangement or
handling process of printing
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
PRINTER MATERIAL
• To fix the identity of disputed books, magazine
or other material it is necessary that either a
proof copy should be supplied or sample of
copies of genuine text form should be made
available
 CURRENCY NOTES
• legal tender issued by a government of nation
as official currency in circulation in form of
coins and paper notes as a medium of
exchange for goods and services
• currency has different value accordingly and is
the basis for trade
 CURRENCY NOTES
• other types of currency, modern and
antiquated- Digital currency (bitcoins), Asset-
backed currency (resource or asset-gold/silver
- it is dependent on the asset value), Currency
in Debitoor
 CURRENCY NOTES
• Counterfeit currency refers to currency that
closely resembles the original currency of a
country which is produced with illegal means
for the purpose of deception-counterfeiting
Traveller’s cheque, bonds, and currency are
among the most often counterfeited items
 CURRENCY NOTES
• Counterfeits are created in a variety of ways
• Access to scanner and colour printer easily
enables to create counterfeit currency
• Scanning could pick up the intricate lines and
details found on currency
• added features to paper currency it can
prevent the currency being scanned
 CURRENCY NOTES
• Even if currency is successfully scanned yet a
counterfeiter would still encounter difficulty
printing it
• Even most sophisticated printer cannot
reproduce the microscopic details, because of
the built in security features of money
• Money is printed on special paper which
possesses security features- often embedded
in currency notes to identify genuine notes.
 CURRENCY NOTES
• Common security features include
watermarks, security threads, latent images,
micro-lettering, intaglio (raised print), optically
variable ink and fluorescence
• governments continue to change the design of
paper money to make currency difficult to
copy and to prevent counterfeiting
• Countries continue to refine methods to
protect their currency from counterfeits
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
CURRENCY NOTES
• security features deter counterfeiting, yet hi-
tech instruments and technology are being
used in printing of counterfeit notes
• Detecting counterfeit currency notes is a task
of national importance
• Approaches-manual methods-visually
verifying security features
• Chemical analysis method verify paper quality
 FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF
CURRENCY NOTES
• Automated methods such as scanners and
printers enables to discovered that a fake
document which has more unique colors than
its genuine counterpart
• Devices like currency detector or currency
validator are used not only by banks to
authenticate currency but also at all business
transactions-scan paper currency using optical
and magnetic sensors like photocell