Criminal Justice & Criminology

Forensic Examination of Questioned Documents
Editors: Sumit Kumar Choudhary, PhD
Surbhi Mathur, PhD
Anubhav Singh

Forensic Examination of Questioned Documents

In Production
Pub Date: Forthcoming December 2026
Hardback Price: $180 USD | £140 UK
Hard ISBN: 9781779645234
E-Book ISBN: 9781779645241
Pages: Est 288pp w index
Binding Type: Hardback / ebook
Notes: 12 color and 107 b/w illustrations


Reviews
“The beauty of this seminal work of Dr. Sumit, Dr. Surbhi, & Mr. Anubhav is coming out with three books at one go that together weave the entire length and breadth of the field of questioned documents examination. The books [along with their sister volumes] serve not only as a repository of knowledge but also as a guide to navigating the intricate landscape of forensic document examination. . . . A comprehensive exploration of contemporary methodologies, tools, and techniques that enhance the know-how of the examination of questioned documents.”
—From the Foreword by Dr. Henry Lee, Founder & Emeritus Professor, Institute of Forensic Science, University New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Commissioner (ret), Connecticut Department of Public Safety; Director & Chief Criminalist (ret) State Police Forensic Laboratory of Public SafetyDirector & Chief Criminalist (ret) State Police Forensic Laboratory


Questioned document examination has a pivotal role within the field of forensic sciences, integrating principles of analysis and investigation to ascertain the authenticity and integrity of documents presented in legal contexts. In an era characterized by rapid technological advancements and increasingly sophisticated fraudulent activities, the importance of this discipline and updated reports on these technological breakthroughs cannot be overstated. The integration of diverse scientific disciplines, such physics, chemistry, psychology, digital forensics, and statistical analysis, underscores the complexity of questioned document examination. This new book is the first of three books that present the principles and the latest advancements and research in the forensic examination of questioned documents.

This volume, Forensic Examination of Questioned Documents, focuses on the important foundational principles, providing an introduction and discussing topics that include papermaking and its forensic significance, writing instruments and ink analysis techniques, instrumentation used in document examination, photography of questioned documents, handwriting and signatures, document forgery, effects of old age and illness on handwriting characteristics, and more.

Other books by the editors, Advances in Forensic Examination and Reporting of Questioned Documents Cases and Forensic Examination of Altered and Tampered Documents, discuss the latest advancements and research dimensions from the discipline from across the world.

Unlike many traditional forensic texts, these volumes uniquely integrate technological advancements with practical casework, bridging the gap between classical questioned document examination and cutting-edge digital forensic methods. The contributors include leading experts from both forensic science and legal disciplines, ensuring authoritative content that is both scientifically sound and legally relevant. Additionally, the books’ focus on ethical standards, report writing, and courtroom presentation directly supports the professional development of examiners and enhances their credibility in judicial proceedings.

These comprehensive resources are essential references for forensic practitioners, law enforcement agencies, legal professionals, and academic programs worldwide as well as for faculty and students in forensic science. In addition, the books’ multidisciplinary approach and future-focused content will also appeal to policymakers and technology developers involved in document security and authentication.

ALSO SEE THESE RELATED TITLES:

Advances in Forensic Examination and Reporting of Questioned Documents Cases

Forensic Examination of Altered and Tampered Documents


CONTENTS:
Foreword by Dr. Henry Lee

Preface

1. Introduction to Forensic Documents Examination
Mukti Chavda and Sumit Kumar Choudhary

2. Papermaking and Its Forensic Significance
Imani. J. Brown, Kofi A. Afrifah, and Ali Raza

3. Writing Instruments and Ink Analysis Techniques
Ahmed A. Gawad and Tarek M. Salama

4. Instrumentation for Forensic Examination of Questioned Documents
Ashish Badiye, Muskan Singal, Dimple Kadukar, Neeti Kapoor, and Ritesh K Shukla

5. Photography of Questioned Documents
Palak Aneja and Parvesh Sharma

6. Introduction to Handwriting and Signatures
Surbhi Mathur, Anubhav Singh, and Sumit Kumar Choudhary

7. Examination of Forgery in Documents
Surbhi Mathur, Anubhav Singh, and Sumit Kumar Choudhary

8. Effects of Old Age and Illness on Handwriting Characteristics
Komal Saini and Manpreet Kaur

Index


About the Authors / Editors:
Editors: Sumit Kumar Choudhary, PhD
Sr. Assistant Professor, Rashtriya Raksha University, India

Sumit Kumar Choudhary, PhD, is an academician, researcher, author, editor, consultant, and an emerging thought leader in forensic science. His professional experience spanning about 15 years involves his association with National Forensic Sciences University in the capacity of a UGC Research Fellow, which was followed by his appointment as the first faculty member at the first police university of India, Rashtriya Raksha University, where he served as academic head; member of the board of governors, academic council, and finance committee; program coordinator; university vigilance officer; dean of forensic science; dean of training; and registrar of the university (the youngest and longest serving). He delivers lectures to police officers, judges, private security officers, and students and has trained police officers and other criminal justice system officers of more than 10 countries. He was a member of the Technical Group in the BPR&D National Level Committee for “Developing SOP in Crime Scene Photography & Videography,” and was chairperson of the BPR&D by the national committee for development of e-content in forensic science for police officers. He is also is a member of the committee for planning and implementation of NABL Accreditation of fingerprint bureaus of the country. He has organized, attended, chaired, and convened many national and international conferences, seminars, and workshops; presented and published a number of research papers; and addressed scientific and technical sessions at conferences and seminars. He is member of editorial boards of several journals, founder chair of FIRST Dialogue, a forensic ideation forum, and principal investigator of several projects. He is a member of the boards of studies for forensic science for government universities in Madhya Pradesh and a research advisory member at in the doctoral programs of several universities. He has received several awards for his work.

Surbhi Mathur, PhD
Associate Professor & Associate Dean, National Forensic Sciences University, India

Surbhi Mathur, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Questioned Documents and Associate Dean at the School of Forensic Science, National Forensic Sciences University, India. She has 13 years of teaching and research experience in forensic science and supervises master-level dissertation projects and PhD students in questioned document examination and other areas of forensic physical sciences. She gives forensic training to police officers, judicial officers, public prosecutors, CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) officials, and officials of other countries and has delivered talks at national and international forums on forensic science, especially questioned documents, CCTV forensics, audio examination, and digital video and image analysis. She has also delivered invited talks at the prestigious INTERPOL digital forensics expert group and on TEDx platforms. Dr. Mathur has presented research papers at national and international conferences and has over 35 research publications in peer-reviewed and Scopus-indexed journals. She has completed a national research project titled “Critical analysis of the effectiveness of CCTV in law enforcement (crime prevention, detection traffic management etc.)” for the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India. Dr. Mathur has received awards for her work, including a Best Women Faculty Award, Young Researcher Award, Research Excellence Award, Forensic Excellence Award, among others. She completed her doctorate in forensic science at the national forensic sciences university.

Anubhav Singh
Doctoral Research Fellow, School of Forensic Science, National Forensic Sciences University, India

Anubhav Singh is a Doctoral Research Fellow at the School of Forensic Science, National Forensic Sciences University, India. He is a researcher, academic author, and editor specializing in Digital Forensics and Multimedia Forensics. He has authored and contributed to over 30 peer-reviewed publications, including high-impact research articles and scholarly book chapters across core forensic science domains. His work emphasizes computationally driven methodologies, advanced forensic imaging techniques, and data-centric investigative frameworks aimed at enhancing evidentiary reliability and analytical precision in forensic casework. In addition to his research contributions, he holds advanced academic certifications in cybersecurity tools and cyber attacks, cyber attacks and countermeasures, and hybrid cloud infrastructure, reflecting his strong foundation at the convergence of forensic science and emerging digital technologies. He is a recipient of the Resilient Forensic Scientist Award, the Junior Researcher Award, and multiple paper and poster presentation awards. His scholarly pursuits are directed toward strengthening methodological rigor, promoting technology-integrated forensic practices, and bridging theoretical research with real-world investigative and courtroom applications, thereby contributing to the evolution of contemporary forensic science.




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