Virtual Autopsy in India: Science, Technology, and Its Relevance in the Zubeen Garg Case
In the age of modern medicine and digital diagnostics, even the study of death has gone high-tech. Virtual autopsy — also called virtopsy — uses CT and MRI imaging to create a 3D representation of the body, allowing forensic experts to investigate cause of death without invasive dissection. This article explains the method, its advantages and limitations, the current state of virtopsy in India, and why it is especially relevant to the ongoing public discussion around the death of singer Zubeen Garg.
Dual-Head CT Injector System for Post-Mortem CT Angiography (PMCTA) — has been successfully installed at the Department of Forensic Medicine, NEIGRIHMS.
What is a Virtual Autopsy?
A virtual autopsy is a non-invasive post-mortem examination that relies on high-resolution imaging technologies — primarily Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). These modalities produce thousands of cross-sectional images which are then reconstructed into detailed 3D visualizations of the body. Forensic radiologists and pathologists can navigate these reconstructions to identify fractures, hemorrhages, fluid collections, foreign objects, or other abnormalities that may explain the cause of death.
How Does a Virtual Autopsy Work?
The workflow typically involves:
- Body scanning: The deceased is scanned using CT/MRI. CT is often preferred for bone injuries and gas detection; MRI is superior for soft-tissue contrast.
- Image processing: Raw images are processed into 3D datasets with specialized software.
- Forensic analysis: Radiologists inspect the datasets, identifying trauma, hemorrhage, organ damage, or signs of disease.
- Complementary tests: Toxicology and histology samples are collected when necessary.
- Report and documentation: Findings are compiled into a visually rich forensic report for investigators and courts.
Advantages of Virtual Autopsy
Virtual autopsy offers several compelling benefits:
- Non-invasive: No incisions are required, preserving the body’s integrity.
- Permanent digital record: 3D datasets can be archived, re-reviewed, and shared with international experts.
- Speed: Scans can be completed within minutes, producing fast preliminary findings.
- Safety: Minimizes exposure of staff to biological hazards.
- Public trust: Visual evidence reduces speculation in high-profile cases.
Limitations and Challenges
Despite its promise, virtual autopsy is not a panacea:
- It may miss microscopic cellular changes that require histology.
- High acquisition and maintenance costs limit availability.
- Specialized training in post-mortem radiology is needed.
- Legal frameworks must evolve to accept digital autopsy findings uniformly as evidence.
Virtual Autopsy in India: The Present Scenario
India is gradually adopting virtual autopsy. According to Prof. (Dr.) Amarjyoti Patowary, Dean (Research) & HOD of Forensic Medicine, there are currently four centres in India equipped for virtual autopsy. Among them, NEIGRIHMS, Shillong is a pioneering center that began performing virtopsies in March 2022, shortly after AIIMS Delhi.
Key Forensic Clarifications from Dr. Patowary
Dr. Patowary highlighted several practical points:
- Toxicology: Detection of poisons requires laboratory analysis of body fluids and tissue samples, irrespective of whether the autopsy is virtual or conventional.
- Embalming: Preserving a body using formalin does not destroy cellular architecture; it preserves tissues for later pathological study.
- Cyanosis: The bluish discoloration due to hypoxia may indicate drowning, poisoning, or other causes of oxygen deprivation.
The Zubeen Garg Case: Timeline & Forensic Questions
Singer Zubeen Garg passed away in Singapore on September 19, 2025, reportedly while swimming near St. John’s Island. Singapore authorities issued a post-mortem and a death certificate listing drowning as the cause. Because of public concern, the Assam government requested a second autopsy after the body was repatriated to India.
While official sources do not publicly confirm the use of virtual autopsy in this specific case, the situation highlights why virtopsy is relevant: international jurisdiction, public demand for transparency, the effects of embalming and decomposition, and the need for shareable, reproducible evidence.
Why Virtual Autopsy Could Have Been Useful
Here’s what virtual autopsy could offer in cases like this:
- Cross-border evidence sharing: Digital images can be securely shared between foreign and domestic forensic teams for independent review.
- Time-sensitive preservation: Early imaging preserves internal details that may degrade with decomposition or embalming.
- Public transparency: Visualized evidence helps counter misinformation spread on social media.
- Complementary analysis: Virtual scans guide targeted sampling for toxicology or histology.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Adoption of virtual autopsy also raises legal and ethical questions:
- How will courts accept and weigh virtual autopsy findings compared with traditional autopsy reports?
- Who holds the digital data and who has access to it — the family, police, or judicial authorities?
- How should consent and cultural sensitivities be handled, especially in remote or minority communities?
Global Context: Where Virtopsy Is Already in Use
Countries such as Switzerland (origin of the method), Japan, the UK, and Singapore use virtual autopsy regularly. In many of these places, imaging precedes or complements conventional autopsies. Singapore’s advanced medical infrastructure suggests the possibility that imaging was used in early investigative stages of the Zubeen Garg case — though public confirmation is lacking.
Practical Steps to Scale Virtual Autopsy in India
To make virtual autopsy widespread and reliable, India needs to focus on:
- Infrastructure: More dedicated CT/MRI resources for forensic use.
- Training: Specialized courses for forensic radiology and post-mortem imaging.
- Legal reforms: Clear guidelines and admissibility standards for digital autopsy evidence.
- Public awareness: Campaigns to explain virtopsy to families, lawyers, and the media.
Case Study: NEIGRIHMS Shillong and AIIMS Delhi
NEIGRIHMS Shillong’s virtopsy program is an example of regional leadership. By conducting regular training under the Department of Health Research (DHR) program, these centers are creating a small but growing pool of experts capable of performing and interpreting virtual autopsies. AIIMS Delhi remains a national reference center and a training hub.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does virtual autopsy replace conventional autopsy?
Not completely. Virtual autopsy is often complementary. In many jurisdictions, imaging is used first, and if further tissue-level evidence is required, a traditional autopsy is performed.
Can poisons be detected without cutting the body?
No. Toxicology requires physical samples (blood, urine, organ tissue). Virtual autopsy guides where to take those samples but cannot replace laboratory analysis.
Is virtual autopsy legally admissible in India?
Legal acceptance is evolving. While digital images can support findings, India needs clearer statutory and procedural rules before virtopsy becomes a standalone legal standard nationwide.
Conclusion
Virtual autopsy represents a humane, modern approach to forensic investigation — one that balances scientific rigor with cultural sensitivity. The public debate around Zubeen Garg’s death has thrust virtopsy into the national spotlight, demonstrating both its potential and the gaps that remain in India’s forensic infrastructure.
With focused investment in technology, training, and legal frameworks, virtual autopsy can become an essential tool for delivering transparent, fast, and dignified justice. As Prof. (Dr.) Amarjyoti Patowary has emphasized, the goal is not only to determine what happened but to do so with respect — for the deceased, for families, and for the truth itself.
