The acute shortage of staff at the state Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has led to massive pendency of sensitive cases. According to government data, as of January, 1,825 samples in connection with Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act cases while 1,265 samples related to rape cases are pending with the FSL, which has 13 units across the state. The facility has played a vital role in the detection of crime in Maharashtra ever since the 1993 serial blasts occurred. However, except for highly sensitive cases, the pendency of the cases that require its expertise varies from a minimum of six months to years.

During the ongoing monsoon session, Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in response to a question in Assembly, said that as of May, 478 posts are vacant in the FSL across the state. He added that the process to fill the posts was ongoing and 525 posts would be filled on a contractual basis.