AIIMS to send journalist Akshay Singh viscera to CFSL to test for poisoning

NEW DELHI: AIIMS will send the viscera samples of TV journalist Akshay Singh to the central forensic laboratory here, who died under mysterious circumstances while covering Vyapam scam, to test for poisoning and will conduct examination of tissues to study any manifestation of disease.

According to a senior doctor, the forensic department of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here does not have the required facilities to conduct the toxicological analysis of viscera samples which is used to determine if there is any poisoning and its source.

A three-member AIIMS board comprising Additional Professor Dr Adarsh Kumar, Professor Dr Millo Tabin and Senior Resident Doctor Shashank Pooniya, all from the forensic department of AIIMS, is conducting histopathological test which involves microscopic examination of tissues to study manifestations of disease.

"There are two sets of viscera samples. One set (tissues) we have accepted and have started doing histopathological examination of tissues. While the other set of viscera samples will be sent to CFSL-Delhi for toxicological analysis. We have already told Madhya Pradesh police team to take the second set for chemical analysis.

"It will be better that the other sample is sent to CFSL labs," said AIIMS' forensic head Dr Sudhir Gupta.

According to sources at AIIMS, the institute does not have the mandate and the enhanced facilities required to conduct toxicological analysis of viscera samples, the reason why even in Sunanda Pushkar's case her viscera samples were sent to CFSL last year.

"AIIMS yesterday had received the viscera samples. Now as per the procedure, the HOD-Forensic will write a letter recommending that the viscera be tested at CFSL and the police team will take the samples there," said the sources.