2. “The falsification of financial documents is a “Bigg
business” in almost every country and it is on the
increase everywhere. It is estimated that
thousands of crores of rupees are lost in financial
frauds every year.”
“It is estimated that only 50% of questioned
document cases are reported to the police”
3. WHAT IS A DOCUMENT?
DOCUMENT
Any material containing marks, symbols, or signs either visible, partially visible
that may present or ultimately convey a meaning to someone. May be in the
form of pencil, ink writing, typewriting, or printing on paper.
a) QUESTIONED DOCUMENT – Any document about which some issue has
been raised or which is under scrutiny, or of doubtful origin.
b) STANDARD DOCUMENT – Are condensed and compact-set of authentic
specimen which is adequate and proper, should contain a cross section of
the material form it source. They are used by the document examiner as the
basis for his identification or non identification of the questioned document.
4. LEGAL DEFINITION OF A DOCUMENT
Section 29 in The Indian Penal Code
29. “Document”.—The word “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.
Explanation 1.—It is immaterial by what means or upon what substance the letters, figures or
marks are formed, or whether the evidence is intended for, or may be used in, a Court of
Justice, or not. Illustrations A writing expressing the terms of a contract, which may be used as
evidence of the contract, is a document. A cheque upon a banker is a document. A power-of-
attorney is a document. A map or plan which is intended to be used or which may be used as
evidence, is a document. A writing containing directions or instructions is a document.
Explanation 2.—Whatever is expressed by means of letters, figures or marks as explained by
mercantile or other usage, shall be deemed to be expressed by such letters, figures or marks
within the meaning of this section, although the same may not be actually expressed.
Illustration A writes his name on the back of a bill of exchange payable to his order. The
meaning of the endorsement, as explained by mercantile usage, is that the bill is to be paid to
the holder. The endorsement is a document, and must be construed in the same manner as if
the words “pay to the holder” or words to that effect had been written over the signature.
Section 3 of IEA also defines a Document in a similar way.
5. NATURE OF A QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
▪ SECTION 29 OF IPC illustrated the nature of a document.
▪ Section 29 A defines “electronic record”
▪ A questioned document can be:
– A letter
– Financial document
– Record [ i.e.., a falsified record]
– Ticket
– Examination paper
– Will
– Historical document
– Posters
– Book
– Burnt or damaged document
– Electronic document
6. SCOPE OF A QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
The scope of a questioned diocument is to:
1. Establish genuineness or nongenuineness, or to expose forgery, or to
reveal alterations, additions or deletions;
2.Identify or eliminate persons as the source of handwriting;
3. Identify or eliminate the source of typewriting or other impression,
marks, or relative evidence; and
4.rite reports or give testimony, when needed, to aid the users of the
examiner's services in understanding the examiner's findings.
7. Cases where Forensic Document
Examination is Applied
Following are some cases where forensic document examination is applied to
analyze different types of questioned documents.
▪ IdentityTheft
▪ Forgeries
▪ Counterfeitin
▪ Suicide
▪ Homicide
▪ Fraud
▪ Kidnappings
▪ Bank Robberies
▪ ContestedWills
▪ Extortion
▪ Medical Malpractices
▪ Stalking
▪ Title/Deed Lawsuits
▪ Contested Contracts
8. TYPES OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS
For the purpose of discussion, the important documents which affect
our day to day lives may be classified into following categories:
▪ CIVIL DOCUMENTS: Birth Registration Certificate, Death
Certificate, Marriage Registration/ Divorce Certificate etc.
▪ ROUTINE DOCUMENTS: ID card,Voter ID Card, PAN Card,AADHAR
Card, Domicile Certificate, OBC/ Caste Certificate, BPL Certificate,
Ration Card, Examination Mark Sheets/ Degrees/ Certificates/
Testimonials MotorVehicle Registration Certificate, Driving License
▪ TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: PASS PORT,VISA, Nationality Certificate,
Resident Alien Card, Permanent Resident Card, Naturalization and
Citizenship Certificates
9. TYPES OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS
▪ BANK DOCUMENTS: Cheques, Drafts,Traveler Cheques, DW, Currency
Notes, Credit Card, Debit Card, Smart Card.
▪ SECURITY DOCUMENTS EXECUTED ON STAMP PAPERS: DP Note,
Hypothecation/ Bank Guarantee etc., Agreement, PropertyTransfer/
Registration etc.,
▪ JUDICIAL DOCUMENTS: Important Court Orders/ Judgments, Laboratory
Reports
▪ COMMERCE RELATED DOCUMENTS: Patents & Copy Rights Certification,
Logo etc.
▪ PAPER-LESS OR DIGITAL DOCUMENTS: Electronic MoneyTransfers
Through Websites, OnlineTransactions, E-Banking Solutions etc.
10. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
The preliminary examination of a disputed document case is done to find out if the
document case is fit for detailed examination or not.The expert appraises whether the
disputes document is
1. Normal
2. Free from alteration
3. Free from trimming
4. Free from obliteration
5. Free from the infirmities of
– Old age
– Intoxication
– Disease
11. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
The preliminary examination of the standards helps to find out if the standards are
1. Authentic, proved to be from the alleged source or accepted by the parported
person?
2. Adequate (sufficient)
3. Contemporaneous
4. Disguised or otherwise
The preliminary examination, thus, determines the adequacy, authenticity and
integrity of all documents being examined. It is followed by detailed examination and
evaluation.
12. REFERENCE
1. Questioned document examination - Wikipedia [Internet]. [cited 2021 Mar 16]. Available
from:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Questioned_document_examination#Scope_of_document_
examination
2. Types of Questioned Documents - Forensic Document Examination [Internet]. [cited 2021
Mar 16]. Available from: https://ifflab.org/types-of-questioned-documents-forensic-
document-examination/
3. Forensic Science in Criminal Investigation & Trials - Dr. B. R. Sharma - Google Books
[Internet]. [cited 2021 Mar 16]. Available from:
https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Forensic_Science_in_Criminal_Investigati.html?id=
bpMfAAAACAAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y
