In a May 21 order, the Allahabad High Court granted bail to an accused in a rape and murder case, saying it did so “with a heavy heart and great pain” because forensic evidence did not link the suspect to the crime. Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal allowed the bail application of the accused, Manoj, after the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report failed to establish that the DNA recovered from the deceased’s vaginal smear belonged to him due to an insufficiently generated DNA profile.
The court voiced deep concern over the state of the FSLs that handled the evidence. It noted that in many cases an incomplete DNA profile prevents identification of the source, undermining the prosecution’s ability to rely on scientific proof. “…in most of the cases, FSL report shows that because of incomplete generation of DNA profile, source of DNA found in the vaginal swab cannot be determined,” the judgment said.
The order directly linked the failure to generate usable DNA profiles to outdated machines and incomplete infrastructure at the FSLs. “Outdated machine as well as incomplete infrastructure in FSL is the main reason for non-generation of DNA profile and no one can be blamed except the State Government,” the court observed, adding that the government has other priorities but must address the laboratories’ basic needs.
The bench also urged remedial action, saying it expects the state government to equip FSLs with high-end machines and adequate staff. The court directed the high court registrar (compliance) to send a copy of its order to the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary for the perusal of the chief minister, underlining the urgency it attached to strengthening forensic capacity.
Original Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/allahabad-high-court-grants-bail-to-rape-murder-accused-over-lack-of-evidence-11598138#publisher=newsstand
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Publish Date: 2026-06-06 02:37:00
