Polygraph, brain mapping tests for Kasliwal

     Mumbai: Abhishek Kasliwal, the son of Ambuja Kasliwal, the owner of Shree Ram Mills, will have to undergo brain mapping and polygraph tests at the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory in Bangalore. Revealing this decision on Saturday, Worli Police said the brain mapping tests were being carried out to find out the truth behind the alleged rape incident. They said Abhishek will undergo polygraph test first followed by brain-mapping test at the Bangalore Lab, all of which is likely to last for around three hours.

    The outcome of the brain mapping test is admissible in the court of law as evidence, added the police. In the brain mapping test, the activation of brain for the associated memory is carried out by presenting a list of words to the subjects. There are three types of words in the Brain Mapping list - Neutral words (no relation to the case), Probe words (direct relation to the case and helps to dig out information) and Target words (based on confidential findings which the suspect does not know and the polygraph findings and possibilities postulated by the investigation officer). The word activates the semantic memory / episodic memory, if the subject truthfully had participated in the act. This word gives rise to characteristic Event Related Potential (ERP) Responses of the brain. If the subject (the person undergoing the test) had not participated in the event, the words presented fails to evoke any significant ERP responses. The polygraph test which is also known as lie detector test compares physiological responses (breathing, blood pressure, heart, and perspiration rates) to general questions and to those specifically related to a crime.

     Yesterday, a local court had rejected the bail plea of Kasliwal and sent him to police custody till March 21. The court had also allowed the Mumbai police to put Kasliwal to scientific tests which include polygraph and brain mapping tests, observing that these tests were necessary for effective investigation. Rejecting the plea, Magistrate S S Suroshe said, "There is sufficient material to show that the alleged offences are punishable with life imprisonment." However, Kasliwal's lawyer Shirish Gupte opposed the police plea to conduct the tests and claimed it was a case of consensual sex and not rape. Terming the allegation as "false charges of rape" Gupte said it was a "rank case of extortion" because the victim had demanded money after she got down from Kasliwal's car. On March 12, Police had arrested 26-year old Abhishek Kasliwal, following allegation of rape lodged by a 52-year-old woman. Worli Police have also seized Kasliwal's car where the alleged rape had taken place and booked him under sections 325 (for causing grievous hurt) and 376 (for rape) of the Indian Penal Code. The woman in her complaint stated that she was waiting for transport near Churchgate while on her way to home around midnight on March 11. Kasliwal who was reportedly drunk, offered her a lift in his bottle-green Mercedes car. It has been alleged by the lady that Kasliwal drove her to the Sreeram Mills in Worli where he raped her four times. The police sent her to St George's Hospital and Nagpada police hospital for medical examination. Preliminary reports suggested of rape and assault.

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