April - June 2010 - Bureau of Police Research and Development

Detection of Lorazepam from Human Viscera by a new HPLC techniqueFive plastic bottles with red cap said to containa) uterus, b) spleen, c) stomach with its content,d) part of liver with gallbladder, e) 2cc bloodsample, f) part of intestine all collected from thedeceased.Five small bottles with rubber cap said to containdry vaginal swab of deceased, wet vaginal swabof the deceased, blood sample of the accusedand spit (saliva) of the accused. One yellow colored maxi (night wearing apparelof the deceased).Experimental SectionThe exhibits were referred to this laboratory with aview to establish the link up of the items collectedfrom the scene of crime with the crime. Exhibit slno- 1 i.e. the tablets were referred to know whetherthis are actually any drug which may cause deathif taken in large quantity and to know/confirmwhether drug was available in the viscera andstomach content of the deceased. The exhibit sl.no- 2, which was found to contain traces of whitepowder, was sent to ascertain whether the sameitem was dangerous to human life. The exhibit sl.no-3 i.e., the aerated cold drinks bottle which werefound to contain some quantity of liquid was sentto ascertain whether any drug/poisonous substancepresent in it or not, if so the name of the drug/poison. Exhibit sl.no. - 4 the steel glass as per thecase story was used to feed some liquid food/drinksto kill the victim and it was necessary to knowwhether such actually happened or not. Exhibit sl.no.-5 the viscera samples were referred to knowwhether any drug /poison that may cause deathand weather the poison /drug present in them hadany similarity with that of any of the items detectedin the exhibit no.1 to 4.Exhibit sl. no-6 the vaginal swab, saliva ofdeceased and accused respectively were referredto know whether any spermatozoa present andwhether the later has any match with that of theaccused saliva, etc. Exhibit sl. no- 7 was found toknow whether any spermatozoa present or not.The vaginal swabs, saliva, etc. were referred tothe Bio/Ser division of this laboratory to satisfythe queries, as such parameters are not examinedin the Toxicology division.The rest exhibits i.e., serial no 1 to 4 and all the vialscontaining viscera samples were taken up forchemical examination in the Toxicology division. Chemical examination: The lone tablet of Trapexremaining in the strip was taken, crushed andextracted with methanol. Also the trace quantity ofthe white powder present in the plastic containerwas extracted with methanol. Initial screening tests(colour test) were performed to have somepreliminary idea about the nature of the activeingredients present in the same. The chemical testrevealed the presence of the benzodiazepines inthem. Instrumental studies I: R fvalue of the exhibitwas found to match with that of standard lorazepamby TLC studies (Photograph no- 3).Photo no-3: TLC of exhibit Sl. no. (1),std lorazepam and viscera extractTLC system: (I) Chloroform: Acetone :: 4:1 and (II)Chloroform: methanol:: 9 :1Visualization under UV 254 nm and spray reagent -acidified potassium iodo- platinate.Due to non-availability of the standard lorazepamin this laboratory proprietary medicine namely'Ativan 5' were purchased. The said tablets weresuitably extracted, purified and standardlorazepam collected. The FTIR (Model SpectrumBX II, make Perkin Elmer) study of the saidstandard collected confirmed the presence oflorazepam. (FTIR spectra no - 1). The FTIR studyof the extract of exhibit no-1 & 2 confirmed theAbstractThe present paperdescribes themethodology applied toidentify lorazepam, abenzodiazepinederivative used in acase to kill a lady totake revenge ofbetrayal.The Indian Police Journal Vol. LVII-No. 2, April-June, 2010 41➢