#Forensic Evidence

The Supreme Court set aside murder convictions of six accused, ruling that inconsistent eyewitness accounts and the absence of forensic proof failed to meet the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt under the IPC. This underscores that corroborative evidence is essential for murder charges, affecting future prosecutions relying solely on eyewitnesses.

The Supreme Court overturned the ten-year rigourous imprisonment, restoring the trial court’s acquittal because the medical and forensic reports failed to establish the offence beyond reasonable doubt. This underscores that rape prosecutions must be backed by conclusive forensic proof, affecting all pending Section 376 IPC cases.

The Rajasthan High Court granted bail after finding that the net weight of mephedrone, excluding polythene packaging, fell below the 50-gram commercial quantity threshold. This clarifies that forensic weight must be measured without container material - a critical precedent for NDPS bail applications where packaging inflates seized weight.

Madhya Pradesh High Court grants bail in a POCSO case where the DNA report is negative and the prosecutrix denies physical access, underscoring the importance of evidentiary gaps and prolonged custody. The ruling reinforces that bail cannot be denied solely on the gravity of charges without substantive proof.

Madhya Pradesh High Court rules that DNA evidence can independently sustain a conviction under the POCSO Act, even if prosecution witnesses turn hostile. The judgment reinforces the primacy of forensic evidence in sexual offence cases, setting a precedent for reliance on scientific proof over testimonial inconsistencies.

The Kerala High Court granted bail after forensic analysis revealed the seized substance was methamphetamine, not MDMA, reducing the quantity from commercial to intermediate under the NDPS Act. This removes the mandatory bail bar under Section 37, affirming that precise chemical identification - not police allegations - determines statutory thresholds and bail eligibility in drug cases.

Karnataka High Court denies bail in a murder case under Sections 103 & 238 BNS, 2023, citing strong circumstantial evidence and risk of tampering by the accused doctor.

The Allahabad High Court granted bail to a woman accused in a death case where the prosecution failed to establish a causal link due to an incomplete post-mortem and no viscera report, emphasizing that speculative charges cannot override the right to liberty under Article 21. The ruling reinforces that pre-trial detention must be exceptional when forensic evidence is inconclusive and the accused is a primary caregiver to an infant, setting a critical precedent for gender-sensitive bail in dowry-related deaths.

The Karnataka High Court ruled that DNA evidence, even under the POCSO Act, cannot sustain a conviction if material witnesses turn hostile and sample integrity is compromised. The judgment reinforces that forensic evidence must be corroborated by reliable testimony to meet the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt.

Kerala High Court acquitted the accused in a murder trial, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish a complete chain of circumstantial evidence due to inadmissible electronic records under Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act. The judgment underscores the critical role of forensic integrity and procedural compliance in criminal convictions based on circumstantial evidence.

The Punjab & Haryana High Court granted bail under Section 123 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, emphasizing the lack of medical or forensic evidence to support allegations of intoxicant administration. The ruling underscores that prolonged detention without substantive evidence violates the accused's right to liberty under Article 21, particularly when custodial interrogation is unnecessary.

MP High Court grants bail under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, holding that minor recovery (5L alcohol) without forensic evidence of harm weakens the prosecution case. The ruling reinforces that prolonged detention is unjustified without concrete proof of contraband's illegality.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted bail to an accused under the SC/ST Atrocities Act, emphasizing that prolonged judicial delay and lack of forensic evidence undermine the presumption of guilt. This ruling reinforces that procedural fairness under Section 483 BNSS can override the gravity of the offense when investigation gaps persist, setting a precedent for accused persons in similar stalled cases.

The Karnataka High Court dismissed the State's appeal against acquittal, ruling that forensic reports and witness testimonies failed to establish an unbroken chain of circumstantial evidence required for conviction under Section 302 IPC. The judgment reinforces that acquittal stands unless guilt is proven beyond reasonable doubt, even in appeals.

The Rajasthan High Court granted bail under BNSS Section 483 after finding that an eight-month delay in filing the FIR, combined with an inconclusive FSL report and no incriminating digital evidence, fatally weakened the prosecution’s case. This reinforces that procedural lapses and evidentiary gaps, even in serious allegations, can justify release when the state fails to establish a prima facie case.