Questioned Document: Indented Impressions and ESDA Analysis
Published:
Reviewed by Bismith B · 09 Jun 2026
Questions
30
Duration
30 min
Faculty-reviewed
0
Updated
26 May 2026
About this mock
Indented impressions are latent traces left on a sheet when writing pressure from a pen or pencil on the page above transmits mechanical deformation to the document below. Recovering those impressions requires a staged approach: oblique (raking) light examination as the mandatory first step, followed where necessary by the Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA), introduced by Foster and Morantz at Foster and Freeman Ltd in 1979 and now the international gold standard for non-contact, non-destructive indentation recovery. This mock covers the full workflow: why raking light is tried first, how the document is humidified and sandwiched under a polymer (Mylar) film, how an electrostatic charge is applied across the surface and then cascaded with conductive toner powder, and how the resulting ESDA lift is fixed and photographed. Questions explore the physics of toner attraction to charged indentation sites, the sensitivity of ESDA across multiple sheets below the original writing surface, the critical pre-examination handling rules (no creasing, controlled relative humidity), and the comparison of developed lifts with known exemplars from the suspect writer. Indian context features prominently: the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) Kolkata Questioned Document division uses ESDA routinely in anonymous letter, threat letter, ransom note, and financial-fraud casework, and expert opinion on such examinations is tendered in Indian courts under Section 45 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (now Section 39 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023).
Designed for UGC-NET Forensic Science Paper II aspirants covering Unit IX (Questioned Documents), NFSU MSc Forensic Science students, FACT aptitude candidates, and CFSL and state FSL trainees rotating through the Questioned Document section.
Topics covered:
- Oblique (raking) light as the first-line examination for indented impressions
- ESDA history: Foster and Morantz at Foster and Freeman, 1979
- ESDA workflow: humidification, polymer film, electrostatic charge, toner cascade
- Toner powder and its preferential attraction to charged indentation grooves
- Non-destructive nature and document handling before ESDA
- Sensitivity: detection across multiple sheets below the original
- Photography and preservation of the ESDA lift for court presentation
- Court admissibility under IEA 1872 s.45 and BSA 2023 s.39
Allow 30 minutes.
Sources & references
Questions in this mock are written and verified against the following sources. Citations are recorded per question and shown in the explanation after submission.
- cited in 12 questions
Ellen, David -- The Scientific Examination of Documents: Methods and Techniques, 3rd Edition, CRC Press
Chapter 5: Indented Impressions -- ESDA lift fixation: transparent adhesive coversheet method, storage and court presentation
- cited in 7 questions
Day, Susan P. and Davies, Gail -- Forensic Document Examination: Principles and Practice, Elsevier
Chapter 6: ESDA -- Non-destructive examination: Mylar film barrier, toner-paper separation, and compatibility with subsequent analysis
- cited in 3 questions
Hilton, Ordway -- Scientific Examination of Questioned Documents, Revised Edition, CRC Press
Chapter 9: Comparison of Handwriting -- Known exemplar collection and comparison with ESDA-developed questioned writing samples
- cited in 2 questions
Sharma, B.R. -- Forensic Science in Criminal Investigation and Trials, 5th Edition, Universal Law Publishing
Chapter 12: Questioned Documents -- ESDA in financial fraud: cheque leaf examination, impression recovery, and alteration detection
- cited in 2 questions
Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
Section 45 IEA 1872 (Section 39 BSA 2023): Expert opinion as relevant fact; weight vs admissibility; court not bound by expert conclusion
Open source - cited in 2 questions
SWGDOC -- Scientific Working Group for Forensic Document Examination, Guidelines for Examination of Handwritten Items
Section 5: Oblique light examination -- multi-directional lamp positioning for indented impression detection
- cited in 1 question
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
Section 39: Expert opinion as relevant fact -- successor to Section 45 IEA 1872; handwriting, science, art, effective 1 July 2024
- cited in 1 question
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 293 CrPC 1973 (Section 336 BNSS 2023): Government scientific expert report in evidence without oral testimony; right to cross-examine preserved
How our mocks are built
Questions are written and edited by the ForensicSpot team and cited from peer-reviewed forensic textbooks, official syllabi and primary case law. Each one is verified before publishing. Detailed explanations show after you submit, so the test stays a real test. See a mistake? Tell us.
Common questions
What does the Questioned Document: Indented Impressions and ESDA Analysis mock cover?+
Indented impressions are latent traces left on a sheet when writing pressure from a pen or pencil on the page above transmits mechanical deformation to the document below. Recovering those impressions requires a staged approach: oblique (raking) light examination as the mandatory first step, followed where necessary by the Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA), introduced by Foster and Morantz at Foster and Freeman Ltd in 1979 and now the international gold standard for non-contact, non-destr
How many questions and how long is the test?+
30 multiple-choice questions, 30 minutes total. Difficulty: medium. Tier: Premium.
Who is this mock for?+
Forensic science students and aspirants who want timed, exam-style practice with explanations and verified source citations on Questioned Document, NET. Useful for postgraduate entrance preparation and for BSc / MSc forensic students testing their recall under time.
Are the questions reviewed?+
Each question carries a verified source citation. Faculty review for individual questions is in progress.
Do I need an account to take this mock?+
Yes, a free ForensicSpot account is required to start a timed attempt — this lets you save progress, see per-question explanations after submission, and track your topic-level performance over time.