Was a Top Forensic Doctor Who Found Talwars ‘Innocent’, Silenced?

Top forensic psychologist Dr Vaya’s findings were ignored and she was never called to court.

Photo: Reuters

On 12 October, the Allahabad High Court delivered its verdict in the case, acquitting the Talwars of murder charges. This article was first published on 31 July 2015 and is being republished from The Quint’s archives in light of the verdict.

• Leading Forensic Psychologist Dr Vaya who examined the suspects in the Aarushi case says she found the Talwars ‘innocent’.
  
• Dr Vaya claims her findings clearly show that the Talwars were not involved.
  
• Dr Vaya did not give a ‘conclusive, definitive’ clean chit to the servants.
  
• Dr Vaya’s findings were shunted out and she was never called to court to submit the clinching forensic evidence.
  

Leading forensic psychologist from Gujarat, Dr SL Vaya, who had examined the suspects in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case, told The Quint that she had found Talwars to be “innocent”. She also confirmed that she had not been able to give a “conclusive, definitive” clean chit to the servants.

Her findings, however, were ignored. She was never called to the court to present her evidence.

Currently Director (R&D) at the Raksha Shakti University in Gandhinagar, Dr Vaya is a pioneer in forensic psychology in India.

She was Dean and Director of the Institute of Behavioural Sciences in the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, the first in India to start an M.Phil and PG Diploma in Forensic Psychology.

Dr Vaya set up the Forensic Psychology Division at the Forensic Science Laboratory in Ahmedabad in 1988.

She is credited with establishing procedures to interrogate suspects using the latest methods in forensic psychology. She is an expert at forensic statement analysis, crime scene profiling, behavior profiling, polygraph examination, narcoanalysis, brain signature profiling, and layered voice analysis.

Speaking to The Quint from Gandhinagar, Dr Vaya said she was “always clear” the Talwars were “innocent” in the case.

I had personally examined Talwars as well as Rajkumar (the domestic help of the Talwar’s family friends, the Duranis). My findings had shown that the Talwars were not involved. They were innocent. However, I could not say that about Rajkumar. My opinion about him was not definitive. It was not clear to me if he was innocent or involved or lying.
-Dr Vaya, Forensic Psychologist

However, Dr Vaya was never approached again after she submitted her findings.

Once we submit the report, how the investigating agencies use it is their choice. The prosecution of a case is a different ballgame altogether. There are many aspects. But it’s true I was not called for (submitting) evidence in court.

Dr Vaya, Forensic Psychologist

Ask if she ever thought of raising the matter with investigating agencies and pat comes the reply – No.

We’re scientists, our job is to find out things related to science. People who want to use them can choose to use or not use (sic). This was not my personal agenda. I am not a party to it. Whatever I had to say, I have already placed it on record.

We also contacted Dr Mohinder Singh Dahiya, Director for the Institute of Forensic Science at Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, where Dr Vaya was working when the Aarushi double murder was being investigated.

But Dr Dahiya refused to divulge the tests the suspects were subjected to on grounds that the reports pertaining to the case are “confidential”.