General
US cops used newborn’s stored DNA to nab father in a 1996 crime
In a worrisome trend, a lawsuit filed by the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender (OPD) has claimed that the police used blood samples from new-born babies to fund DNA samples and probe crimes committed more than 25 years ago.
The OPD officials learned that the State Police has successfully subpoenaed a newborn blood sample who is now approximately nine years old.
“The reason the State Police subpoenaed the sample was so that it could perform a DNA analysis on the sample and tie the child’s father, who became OPD’s client, to a crime that was committed in 1996,” the lawsuit read.
By serving a subpoena upon the Newborn Screening Laboratory, the State Police allegedly sidestepped its constitutional obligation to develop probable cause and obtain a warrant “so that it could obtain a buccal swab from OPD’s client to perform an analysis of his DNA”.
The suspect then became a client of the OPD, which alerted the office to the techniques used to identify the man.
Every baby born in New Jersey is required by law to be tested for 60 disorders within 48 hours of birth.
Through a simple needle prick to the heel, hospitals, medical facilities, and health care providers collect blood from newborns.
Those blood spot samples are later tested by the Newborn Screening Laboratory, which operated by defendants New Jersey Department of Health, Public Health and Environmental Laboratories.
“These blood spot samples are taken without informed consent by the newborn’s parents or guardians, and, upon information and belief, the samples are stored by Defendants for more than 20 years,” the lawsuit alleged.
In early 2022, OPD learned that at least one law enforcement agency has obtained newborn blood spot samples from the Newborn Screening Laboratory to perform a DNA analysis on the sample as part of a criminal investigation.
The State Police had re-opened an investigation into a “cold case” of sexual assault that had occurred in 1996 and had genetically narrowed the suspects to one of three brothers and their male offspring.
“Because there was not probable cause to obtain search warrants for buccal swabs from those suspects, the State Police instead served a subpoena upon the Newborn Screening Laboratory in or about August 2021 to obtain residual dried blood spot samples that had been collected from a male newborn in or about June 2012,” read the lawsuit.
To ascertain which family member was the suspect, the State Police sought the blood spot sample that was taken from an approximately nine-year-old child when he was a newborn to compare it to the DNA it had collected at the crime scene in 1996.
The lawsuit, filed jointly by the OPD and the non-profit organisation New Jersey Monitor, now seeks to force the state of New Jersey to disclose information on the full extent of the practice.
Maharashtra
Byculla Redevelopment Site Accident Claims Two Lives

Mumbai: A tragic incident occurred on saturday afternoon at the proposed redevelopment site of Habib Mansion in Byculla (West). During piling work, the ground suddenly caved in, resulting in the death of two labourers on the spot.
Two to three other workers suffered serious injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital. The accident took place at the Sundar Galli stretch between Haines Road and Tank Pakhadi Road, where redevelopment work is being undertaken by Ibrahim Jusab Sopariwala & Others. The project is linked to architects A2 Associates and Rajpurkar Associates, with ZZ Consultants reported as the structural advisors.
Local residents claimed that adequate safety measures were missing at the worksite, raising concerns about negligence. Police and BMC officials have cordoned off the area and launched an investigation.
Authorities said a detailed probe will determine whether safety protocols were violated during the redevelopment work.
Maharashtra
NCB seizes city drugs, sets them on fire

Mumbai: The Mumbai Zonal Unit of the Mumbai Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has disposed of about 1835 kg of Mephedrone along with 341 kg of other substances which were seized from various places in Maharashtra and Delhi. 16 persons were arrested in this case. A thorough investigation into the massive drug seizure led to the arrest of several persons including foreigners from various places, resulting in the elimination of close associates of the drug peddlers with international links.
As per the guidelines prescribed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, a high-level Drug Disposal Committee was constituted comprising Deputy Director General (SWR) of NCB, Additional Director, NCB Mumbai Zonal Unit and Additional Commissioner of Pune Police. The case was reviewed and it was selected to dispose of the drug hoard. Accordingly, all legal conditions were complied with after which the seized drugs along with other chemicals were finally destroyed by incineration in the presence of HLDCC on 14th November 2025 at Maple, Ranjangaon, Pune, Maharashtra.
This significant seizure of drugs followed by disposal of the sub-judices, indicates the continuous efforts of NCB in dismantling organised drug syndicates and targeting drug offenders who pollute the drug ecosystem. The Bureau is steadfast in its mission to protect public health and uphold the vision of “Nisha Mukt Bharat” by 2047.
NCB is firmly committed to ensuring a drug-free society under the guidance of which it has curbed drug trafficking, broken financial nexus and curbed inter-state and international drug syndicates.
Citizens are urged to play their role by reporting any information related to drugs through the MANS – National Narcotics Helpline (Toll Free Number: 1933). The identity of the informants is kept strictly confidential.
Maharashtra
Three men accused of robbing a youth have been arrested The main accused was apprehended in Titwala.

Mumbai: A young man returning home on a motorcycle in the Asalpha area of Ghatkopar was attacked and forcibly robbed by three men who brandished a chopper. A case was registered at the Ghatkopar police station under sections 309(4), 3(5) of the Indian Penal Code, sections 4, 25 of the Indian Penal Code, and sections 37(1) and 135 of the Indian Penal Code.
The complainant, Suraj Mahadev Dethe (24), and his friend, Yash Kamble, were passing near the Home Guard Training Center at approximately 1:30 a.m. on November 12th when three unidentified individuals in a three-wheeled tempo stopped them. The accused, using the chopper as a pointer, assaulted them, abused them, and stole their Honda Dio scooter and mobile phone.
As soon as the case was registered, the Assistant Commissioner of Police and Senior Police Inspector of the Ghatkopar Division inspected the scene. Based on technical and traditional investigations, the accused identified Hussain Aslam Memon, alias Genda. Upon receiving information that he was hiding in the Titwala area, the police apprehended him. During interrogation, he revealed the names of his accomplices – Munna Ramvilas Sharma and Dilshaduddin Sitabuddin Shaikh – who were subsequently arrested.
On November 13, the three accused were produced in court, where they were remanded to police custody until November 17. The investigation also revealed that Genda is a notorious criminal with more than 13 cases registered against him in various police stations.
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