Dr. S. L. Vaya

Dr. S. L. Vaya is a trained professional Clinical Psychologist and a pioneer in forensic psychology in India. She is the first accredited Forensic Psychologist in India for polygraph examination, narcoanalysis and brain signature profiling. She is currently Director (R&D) at the Raksha Shakti University in Ahmedabad. She was Dean and Director of the Institute of Behavioural Sciences in the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, the first in India to start an M.Phil and PG Diploma in Forensic Psychology. She has set up the Forensic Psychology Division at the Forensic Science Laboratory in Ahmedabad in 1988. She is credited with establishing procedures to interrogate suspects using the latest methods in forensic psychology. She has provided her expert services to solve high-profile cases such as Madhumita Shukla murder case, Gutka case, Nithari serial killings, Aarushi-Hemraj murder case of Noida, Ujjain serial killings, Ranchi serial murders, Telgi fake stamp case and the lion poaching case in Gir. She was awarded the C S Kang Oration Award for the year 2011 by the Indian Associations of Clinical Psychologist (IACP). She also received the Forensic Clinical Psychology Award for the year 2015. Her expertise in forensic psychology and forensic science spans 30 years and was conferred the Indian Union Home Ministers Life Time Achievement Award for her outstanding contribution to the field of Forensic Science and Forensic Psychology in India. She is also an accomplished speaker who is a resource person to national institutes and academies.