Andhra Pradesh Rolls Out 26 Mobile Forensic Vehicles to Take Scientific Crime Investigation Closer to the Ground
The new district-level forensic vehicles form the second layer of Andhra Pradesh’s three-tier evidence collection system and will support investigations involving offences punishable with seven years or more of imprisonment.
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Police has taken another step towards strengthening scientific investigation at crime scenes with the deployment of 26 District Mobile Forensic Vehicles (MFVs) across the state. The vehicles were formally flagged off at Mangalagiri by Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta, a 1992-batch IPS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre.
The initiative is aimed at making forensic assistance faster and more accessible to investigating teams, particularly in serious criminal cases where the timely collection, preservation and documentation of physical evidence can have a direct bearing on the investigation. Rather than relying only on laboratory-based examination after evidence reaches the facility, the new mobile units are designed to take specialised forensic capabilities closer to the crime scene itself.
The 26 vehicles have been introduced as the second tier of Andhra Pradesh’s three-tier, 24×7 forensic evidence collection system, which has been developed through the Andhra Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratory (APFSL). The broader system is intended to create a structured response mechanism based on the seriousness and complexity of the offence.
Three-tier forensic system covers different categories of cases
The new district-level vehicles do not replace the existing forensic response network. Instead, they add another layer to it, allowing police authorities to deploy the appropriate forensic resources depending on the nature of a case and the punishment prescribed for the offence.
At the first level are 107 Crime Spot Vehicles, which are already operating at the Sub-Divisional Police Officer, or SDPO, level. These units are intended to deal with offences carrying a punishment of less than seven years.
The second level now comprises the 26 Mobile Forensic Vehicles being deployed at the district level. These units will provide forensic support in cases involving offences punishable with seven years or more of imprisonment, making them particularly relevant to more serious crimes requiring systematic evidence collection and examination.
The third and highest level consists of specialised teams from APFSL and its seven Regional Forensic Science Laboratories. These teams can be deployed in sensitive, complicated or technically demanding cases where specialised forensic expertise is required.
Together, the three layers create a 24×7 system through which forensic support can be matched to the seriousness of the case. The approach also seeks to reduce delays between the discovery of a crime and the examination of the scene by trained forensic personnel.
Mobile units bring specialised equipment to crime scenes
The new MFVs have been equipped with a range of forensic kits and tools designed to assist personnel during the initial examination of a crime scene. Their role begins at the spot where evidence is located and extends through its identification, collection, preservation and proper documentation.
Among the equipment available with the vehicles are bloodstain detection kits, gunshot residue kits and NDPS investigation kits. They also carry specialised equipment for fire and arson investigations, along with fingerprint development kits.
The vehicles have also been equipped with advanced forensic light sources, which can assist investigators in locating and identifying evidence that may not be readily visible under ordinary lighting conditions. Cyber-forensic equipment has also been included, reflecting the increasingly digital nature of criminal investigations.
The objective is not simply to collect more evidence, but to ensure that evidence found at a crime scene is handled in a systematic manner from the very beginning. This includes crime-scene examination, photography and documentation, identification and collection of relevant material, and its subsequent preservation, packing and labelling.
Focus on evidence preservation and chain of custody
One of the most important aspects of any forensic investigation is what happens to physical evidence from the moment it is discovered. Improper collection, packaging or documentation can complicate subsequent examination and raise questions about the integrity of the evidence.
The mobile forensic network is therefore expected to strengthen procedures surrounding the handling and preservation of evidence. By placing trained forensic support closer to district-level investigations, the system is intended to facilitate earlier intervention at crime scenes.
The initiative is also linked to the forensic examination requirements under Section 176(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in cases involving serious offences. The new structure provides an institutional mechanism through which forensic assistance can be brought into such investigations in a more organised manner.
APFSL and seven regional laboratories handled over 23,000 cases
The expansion of the mobile forensic network comes at a time when Andhra Pradesh is dealing with a substantial forensic workload. Figures cited by the state police show that the Andhra Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratory and its seven Regional Forensic Science Laboratories received 25,602 cases during 2025.
Of these, 23,682 cases were examined, giving the forensic system a reported disposal rate of 92.5 per cent for the year.
The figures underline the scale of forensic examination being undertaken across the state and also provide context for the decision to strengthen the system at the crime-scene level. With mobile units available in districts, investigators can seek forensic assistance earlier instead of waiting for all evidence-related requirements to be addressed after material has been transported to a laboratory.
The larger objective is to create a smoother link between police investigation at the scene and scientific examination at the laboratory.
DGP Harish Kumar Gupta flags off the vehicles
The 26 vehicles were flagged off at the 6th APSP Battalion Grounds in Mangalagiri, marking the formal launch of the district-level forensic response mechanism.
The event brought together senior police and forensic officials. Those present included CID chief Ravi Shankar Ayyanar, APSLPRB chairman R.K. Meena, Additional DGP (Law and Order) N. Madhusudhana Reddy and APFSL Director P.H.D. Ramakrishna, besides other officials involved in policing and forensic services.
DGP Harish Kumar Gupta highlighted the importance of timely forensic assistance in criminal investigations. Referring to APFSL’s performance in 2025, he noted that the state forensic system, supported by seven Regional Forensic Science Laboratories, examined 23,682 out of 25,602 cases received during the year.
He stressed that timely forensic assistance is important for reliable evidence collection and for strengthening the criminal justice system. The emphasis on speed is particularly relevant at crime scenes, where evidence can be lost, contaminated or altered if it is not identified and preserved properly.
A district-level expansion of scientific policing
The deployment of the 26 vehicles represents a shift towards making forensic response more mobile and decentralised. While APFSL and its regional laboratories continue to provide specialised scientific examination, the new units give district-level police teams an additional resource at the earliest stage of an investigation.
For investigators dealing with serious offences, having dedicated forensic personnel and equipment available closer to the scene can make it easier to document the surroundings, identify relevant material and preserve evidence according to established procedures.
The three-tier model also creates a clearer distinction between routine crime-scene requirements and cases requiring a higher degree of forensic specialisation. The 107 existing Crime Spot Vehicles remain at the first level, the 26 district MFVs now form the second level, and specialised APFSL and regional laboratory teams constitute the third.
With the new deployment, Andhra Pradesh is effectively expanding the reach of its forensic infrastructure from laboratories and specialised centres to the districts and, ultimately, the crime scene itself. The move is expected to strengthen scientific evidence collection, improve preservation and documentation practices, and support police investigations in serious criminal cases across the state.
