Special auditors to assist cops in white collar crimes: MoS Home Patil

NAGPUR: Minister of state for home (urban) Dr Ranjit Patil said on Friday his department had empanelled 17 special forensic auditors and four digital auditors to ensure a more systematic approach in probing such cases. Two organizations have been selected to provide professional guidance as forensic auditors and in cyber crimes.
Dr Patil, a BJP MLA from Akola district, stated in an informal chat with TOI that economic offences were fast leaving behind violent crimes in numbers.“State government is keen on capacity building in cyber and forensic wings. We are in transformation phase and going through various processes,” he said. The alumnus of Nagpur Government Medical College and Hospital, who specialized in Orthopaedics, pointed at the empaneling of auditors a forward-looking measure by his department.
The auditors were selected by the assessment committee from the applications submitted by the organizations following an invitation of expression of interest in October this year. The auditors would be asked to provide expert assistance across the state in probes pertaining to cyber crimes and other white collar frauds under economic offence wing. The duties assigned would be decided as per the gravity of the case and requirement of expert opinion.
Dr Patil said the 43 cyber laboratories, opened in each district in August this year, would now have substantial technological support through the empanelled experts. “We are also ensuring the personnel are provided with in-house training for imbibing the latest technologies. The required changes are being also made in the curriculum of the police department to include the modern subjects and their branches. Even police academy at Nashik has been made autonomous for the purpose of incorporating required changes,” he said.
Dr Patil, admitting that manpower crunch in police force was a nagging issue, stated that the outcome would be seen in due course as the department and systems under it were in a transition phase. “We are procuring various gadgets for different utilities. Providing the manpower supply would be the next stage,” he said.
Dr Patil stated mobile forensic laboratories had been introduced in different units and are equipped with modern gadgets for collecting DNA samples, fingerprints and so on. “Certain enactments like Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors’ Act (MPID) are being amended to give them more teeth to tackle white collar crimes. The amendments are being reviewed by law and judiciary department,” he said.