Archive · 15 Sep 2025
Handwriting Bureau Backlog Delays Investigations Across State
Imagine a special team that looks at handwriting to solve crimes is super busy and behind on their work.
This team is short-staffed and has way too many cases.
Important cases like a bomb threat on a plane and fake documents are stuck waiting.
Places like Mumbai and Pune have tons of cases waiting.
They try to focus on the most urgent cases, but it's still causing delays.
Some people think merging with a lab that has better tech could help speed things up, but it has not happened.
The Handwriting and Photographic Bureau has a backlog exceeding 6,000 cases.
Cases are delayed due to staff shortages.
Significant cases like a bomb threat and luxury car fraud are affected.
The Mumbai branch has approximately 600 pending cases.
A report suggests merging the bureau with the state Forensic Sciences Laboratory.
- Who
- Handwriting and Photographic Bureau (CID)
- What
- Backlog of over 6,000 cases delaying investigations, including terror threats and fraud.
- When
- Cases pending since 2019-2020; some for 6-7 years
- Where
- Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Aurangabad
- Why
- Staff shortages and lack of clerical staff.
- Cases Pending
- Over 6,000
- Bureau Jurisdiction
- Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad
- Mumbai Cases Pending
- Approximately 600
- Pune Cases Pending
- Around 3,000
- Staff Shortage
- 24 handwriting experts out of 40 sanctioned
- Report Suggestion
- Merge bureau with state FSL