Author: TNN
Publication: The Times of India
Date: November 3, 2008
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/Forensic_tests_on_sadhvi_Pragya_draw_a_blank/articleshow/3666141.cms
The two forensic tests-psychological profiling
and polygraph tests-carried out on sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, key accused
in the Malegaon blast case, on Saturday has failed to yield any fresh information.
According to sources, she has not provided
any additional information. The tests also indicated that she was not lying.
The sadhvi was earlier subjected to brain mapping which also indicated that
she was not holding back information. TOI was the first to report in its Friday
edition about the results of the brain mapping tests. The details of the tests
carried out on other arrested accused-Ramesh Upadhyay, and Sameer Kulkarni-were
not available.
In a psychololgical profiling test, experts
talk to a subject who has not been given any sedatives. They try to make the
subject speak about a particular issue/crime he or she is supected to be involved
in.
The polygraph (lie-detector) is a mechanism
in which multiple (poly) signals from the sensors are recorded on a single
strip of moving paper (graph). The sensors usually record a subject's breathing
rate, pulse, blood pressure and perspiration. Throughout the questioning,
all of the subject's signals are recorded on the moving paper and experts
examine whether the expressions of his pulse, blood pressure etc match with
that of his physical expression.
The sadhvi, who had so far refused the services
of a lawyer, on Sunday night signed the vakalatnama. Advocate Ganesh Sovani
will represent her and she will be produced in a Nashik court on Monday.
Meanwhile, Satish Kulkarni, the younger brother
of Sameer Kulkarni, one of the accused arrested in connection with the Malegaon
blast, was picked up for questioning on Sunday by the Pune unit of the anti-terrorism
squad (ATS). Sources said the ATS is questioning Satish to find out whether
he had aided or abetted Sameer in the blast. The ATS is also probing the role
of Satish in the attack on a church in Pune two years ago.