Ms. Deepa Verma is a highly respected forensic expert who has dedicated over three decades to advancing forensic science in India. She began her career as an Assistant Central Intelligence Officer, Grade I, and Government Examiner of Questioned Documents in 1990 and worked with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Govt. of India, stationed in Shimla. She holds a deep expertise in document examination, a specialization that she carried forward as she transitioned to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Government of NCT of Delhi, in 1996.
She has been awarded the Forensic Leadership Excellence Award at the 15th IASR International Conference on Forensic Science for her leadership skills and forensic expertise.
Leadership in Forensic Science
Ms. Verma boasts strong expertise and leadership skills in forensic science. Because of these skills and continuous commitment to deliver her best, she got promoted several times within FSL, where she rose to become the director in 2017. As a director, she focused on both technical and administrative aspects. She was responsible for the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) certification of the laboratory in compliance with ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standards, which is a standard for quality and reliability in forensic testing.
The field of digital forensics too was not left untouched by her influence. It was under her leadership that FSL Delhi was designated as an Examiner of Electronic Evidence by the Ministry of Electronics & IT, Govt. of India, under Section 79A of the IT Act. This recognition highlighted the laboratory’s key role in the examination and presentation of the digital evidence in court, making it one of the few institutions with such a permission in India.
Pioneering Forensic Units and Committees
Ms. Verma made a huge contribution with her expertise and leadership skills in establishing the Computer Forensic Unit at FSL. It was a great move that enhanced the lab's ability to tackle cyber crimes and complex digital investigations. In addition to her leadership roles, she took on various responsibilities, including acting as Technical Manager (Doc.) and Head of Department (Doc.), where she ensured the smooth functioning of the laboratory’s document examination services in accordance with NABL standards.
Armed with vast experience, she also served as a key member and chairperson of numerous internal and external committees. She supervised the Fingerprint Unit, contributed to the training and development of forensic professionals, and played a crucial role in national and state-level forensic policy as a member of review and re-examination committees. She was also the chairperson of the Purchase Committee and ensured the lab never ran short of state-of-the-art forensic tools and technologies.
Legacy in Forensic Science
Ms. Deepa Verma's career is a perfect blend of technical expertise and visionary leadership, setting her apart as a pioneering force in the field of forensic science. It is due to her leadership skills that the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Delhi has achieved transformative advancements in terms of improving internal operations and raising the standards for forensic practices in India. She also led the process of setting national standards for document examination and digital forensics that helped FSL gain the reputation of a benchmark laboratory in these areas of specialization.
One of her major accomplishments was achieving NABL accreditation for FSL Delhi. This milestone reveals compliance to internationally accredited quality standards. It guarantees the authenticity of forensic analysis results as per predefined accuracy and reliability standards. Her efforts to increase the offered services in the laboratory have ensured further development of the laboratory as an ultimate and all-in-one center for modern forensic examination of crimes ranging from simple crime scene identification to the complex cyber crimes investigation.
Ms. Verma is a firm believer in education and training, and as a professional and as an expert, she plays a key role in shaping the next generation of forensic experts. She has been involved in the development of the training programs that would prepare the potential forensic scientists for practice in the present-day contemporary forensic environment. She is committed to enhancing collaboration between academic institutions, law enforcement agencies, and forensic labs that has led to the establishment of a strong set-up for development in forensic science in India.
Dr. Ranjeet Singh, along with IASR, Sherlock Institute of Forensic Science, Clue4Evidence Forensic Lab, and the entire organizing committee, acknowledges Ms. Deepa Verma’s over three decades of service and contributions to take forensic science to new heights and for positioning FSL Delhi as a premier institution at both national and international level. We wish she continues to guide and shape the future leaders in forensic science and also enhance its impact on the justice system in India.