Cross an handwriting expert
Sri Vijayan.A
(Querist) 24 July 2017
This query is : Resolved
My client working as Jr. Asst in a government office from 2001. Before that he worked as agent for that office.
In 1998, some orders were issued by government for the welfare of some under privileged people. The order is a printed one and the name of the beneficiary, their address and date alone to be written by hand. And it has to be signed by a authorised signatory.
The charge against my client is he issued such forged orders in 1998 (before he joining the duty) to some beneficiaries.
Totally 18 witnesses, four witnesses (beneficiary) say they received the orders from my client, 3 witnesses (agents) also say the same thing. 11 witnesses say not in memory.
Police asked the accused (my client) to sign on white papers as available on the said orders. The accused also duplicated the same signatures (about 50 in numbers) in more than ten plain papers. Police also asked to write the names of the beneficiaries.
Then the police sent the specimen signatures and sample hand writings. The hand writing expert opined that specimen signatures and the disputed signatures matches and No opinion for sample hand writings.
My client/ accd say the police asked to duplicate the disputed signature, so it might have matched.
Now, my question is HOW TO CROSS THE HAND WRITING EXPERT?
Can he opine that just in one day one cannot duplicate another's signature?
Seven witnesses say they got the orders from the accused/ my client. But we have enough ground to cross them.
S Raut (Forensic Expert : IFS)
(Expert) 24 July 2017
Without studying Handwriting expert's report and case details it is difficult to suggest any exact steps. You can request court to issue summon to handwriting expert for cross examination, becz without examining him as an expert witness, no reliance could be placed on his opinion. If possible send me soft copy of handwriting experts complete report to me by email or PM.
