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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 8:56:24 pm

Man gets death for minor’s rape, murder

Mumbai | Nashik: A Nashik Special Fast Track Court has awarded the death sentence to a 25-year old man who was convicted last week for luring a 4-year-old girl with a chocolate, kidnapping, raping and murdering her, here on Friday. Terming the case as the ‘rarest of rare’ crimes, the Special Judge K. D. Paldewar – who had found Vijay Sanjay Khairnar guilty of kidnap, sexual assault and murdering the child on Sep. 30 but reserved the verdict after the final arguments on Oct. 7 – pronounced the...

Man gets death for minor’s rape, murder

Mumbai | Nashik: A Nashik Special Fast Track Court has awarded the death sentence to a 25-year old man who was convicted last week for luring a 4-year-old girl with a chocolate, kidnapping, raping and murdering her, here on Friday. Terming the case as the ‘rarest of rare’ crimes, the Special Judge K. D. Paldewar – who had found Vijay Sanjay Khairnar guilty of kidnap, sexual assault and murdering the child on Sep. 30 but reserved the verdict after the final arguments on Oct. 7 – pronounced the capital punishment today. He also slapped a fine of Rs 10 lakhs as compensation to the victim’s family, hailing from Dongrale village before a packed courtroom where the villagers, the victim’s family and others were present. Emerging from the courtroom after the verdict, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told the media that “the Court had considered the gravity of the crime and the circumstantial evidence establishing Khairnar’s involvement” while deciding the sentence. The Court did not take into account the convict’s poverty – he was a daily wager – or illiteracy as grounds for leniency, added the ace criminal lawyer. It was on Nov. 16, 2025 in Dongrale village of Malegaon taluka when Khairnar lured the little girl on the promise of giving her a chocolate and took her to a desolate spot to carry out his devious plans. Betraying the trust of the child who used to call him ‘dada’ (elder brother) due to their acquaintance, Khairnar sexually assaulted her, killed her and abandoned her before decamping from there. A few hours later, the child’s body was found dumped in a nullah and the police were summoned. As details of the gruesome crime tumbled out and spread, it ignited widespread public outrage all over the state. The police swung into action, formed several probe teams and managed to track down Khairnar from his hideout within a few hours. Considering the sensitivity of the crime, the strong emotions plus the mass furore it created, the state government assigned the case to a fast-track court, assigned Nikam as the SPP and the matter was heard speedily. The SPP aggressively led the prosecution, arguing in the court that in view of the gravity of the crime, the circumstances leading to it and other aspects, it warranted the severest punishment – death – for Khairnar, irrespective of his age or financial status. The Dongrale villagers stood in solidarity with the victim’s family and they raised a chorus for quick investigations, an expeditious trial and slapping the death penalty on the convict to serve as a strong deterrent to potential offenders. As per the Indian law, the trial court’s verdict will now go to the Bombay High Court for confirmation. Political leaders from different parties hailed the court verdict and said “justice has finally been done to the victim’s family”.

Forensic Facial Reconstruction: Bridging Science and Identity

Dr. Keshav Kumar and Shiwani Phukan
Apr 1, 2025
3 min read

Reconstructing faces, uncovering identities, and solving mysteries through a fusion of science, technology, and art.

Forensic Facial Reconstruction (FFR) is a process that aims to recover the morphology of a face at the moment before death by observing the cranium. It’s a recognition system that allows direct examinations for primary styles of personal identification. It is a combination of science, technology, and artistry that is essential in forensic investigations, archaeology, and medicine. Whether recovering a victim's identity, rebuilding ancient faces, or assisting in medical treatments, this field evolves advanced technology, providing hope and solutions in different fields.


Facial reconstruction has a lengthy history stretching back to ancient civilisations. Early pioneers of contemporary plastic surgery were Sushruta, Al-Bucasis, and Gaspare Tagliacozzi. Surgical techniques evolved greatly over the 18th and 19th centuries, with Joseph Carpue completing the first major rhinoplasty treatment in the Western world in 1814. Wilhelm His performed the first craniofacial surgery. In the early 1900s, in 1895, surgical technology and procedures advanced quickly in the middle of the 20th century. The care of troops with serious face injuries during World War I prompted advancements in surgical procedures, which in turn led the way in the modern age of facial reconstruction. Cutting-edge techniques like skin grafts and flap operations were invented by surgeons like Sir Harold Gillies. More accurate reconstructions are now possible thanks to the field's integration of several technologies.


The use of facial reconstruction helped law enforcement create a composite sketch that led to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator. Artificial intelligence has converted forensic facial reconstruction by automating and improving the procedure. Machine literacy algorithms estimate bone structures to predict face traits more quickly and directly. Likewise, it was designed to anticipate surgical results, thus enhancing preoperative planning and case care. Technologies like Augmented reality (AR), IDEMIA, and INTERPOL’s biometric pattern created an automated software tool that analyses facial features and outlines using cutting-edge technologies like 3D printing, digital sculpting, CT scanning, MRI integration, deep literacy, neural networks and stoked reality technology. AI also plays an important part in age progression and regression analysis, which helps in long-term missing person instances. Furthermore, AI-powered systems aid in recreating faces from fragmented remnants or damaged characteristics. Violent crimes resulting in significant face injuries necessitate sophisticated facial reconstruction therapies, as demonstrated in the January 2025 gang-related attack and star Saif Ali Khan's home incident, when facial recognition identified the perpetrator. Other prominent cases included Sheena Bora's 2012 case, where 2D facial reconstruction was used. In 2023, officials employed face reconstruction to identify a rotting body at Worli Sea Face. Another noteworthy case is Ram Lochan Ahir v. State of West Bengal, in which the court affirmed the trustworthiness of using a superimposed skull to prove identification. King Richard III's facial reconstruction is one of the most well-known examples of forensic facial approximation in 2012.


Facial reconstruction stands at the forefront of forensic science, bridging the gap between skeletal remains and identifiable individuals. Globally, experts such as Dr. Chris Rynn have contributed significantly to the field. Since 2018, KEM Hospital in Mumbai has been at the forefront of forensic face restoration. Sherlock Institute of Forensic Science (SIFS) in India has a dedicated Forensic Facial Imaging Laboratory. Their skilled forensic artists perform facial reconstructions using software to provide insights into age, sex, and ancestry. Dr. Caroline Wilkinson, a renowned facial anthropologist, oversaw the reconstruction process at the University of Dundee. Dr. Murugaiyan Amirthalingam and Dr. Karthik Balaji have developed methods for designing and manufacturing personalised 3D-printed facial implants, a product developed by Zoriox Innovation Labs.


Forensic Facial Reconstruction continues to evolve, merging cutting-edge technology with scientific expertise to reveal identities and preserve history. From aiding law enforcement in solving crimes to reconstructing historical figures and advancing medical applications, this field remains indispensable. As AI-driven tools and 3D imaging enhance accuracy, the future of forensic facial reconstruction promises even greater precision and impact, ensuring that every face—whether lost to time or tragedy—can be recognised and remembered.


(Dr. Kumar is a retired IPS officer and forensic advisor to the Assam government. Phukan is a student of National University of Forensic Science, Guwahati.)

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