#FSL report

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that police officers lack inherent expertise to determine if recovered alcohol is unfit for consumption, and the absence of an FSL report renders the prosecution’s case legally insufficient to justify continued custody. This sets a critical precedent for excise cases nationwide, requiring scientific validation before invoking the most serious provisions of the Act.

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.

Uttarakhand High Court acquitted an accused in a POCSO case, ruling that unreliable identification due to darkness, absence of a test identification parade, and a broken chain of custody vitiated the prosecution's case. The court also emphasized the failure to confront the accused with the FSL report under Section 313 Cr.P.C., setting a precedent for strict adherence to evidentiary standards in sexual offence cases.

Karnataka High Court granted bail in a POCSO case where the victim admitted to an 8-year consensual relationship and the forensic report was negative, emphasizing that familial complaints cannot substitute for substantive proof. The ruling underscores that the presumption of guilt under POCSO must yield to credible evidence of consent and lack of coercion.

The Chhattisgarh High Court acquitted the appellant in a Section 304 IPC case after finding all prosecution witnesses hostile, no forensic link to the weapon, and no evidence establishing exclusive involvement. This reinforces that the benefit of doubt must be granted when the prosecution fails to meet its burden of proof through credible, corroborated evidence - a critical safeguard for accused persons in cases reliant on eyewitness testimony and forensic gaps.

Punjab & Haryana HC rules that a second anticipatory bail petition is maintainable if the FSL report reveals a substantial change in the nature of recovered substances-here, only 50 of 1,030 tablets were narcotic. The ruling clarifies that material changes in forensic evidence justify reconsideration of bail under Section 482 BNSS, even after initial dismissal.

Karnataka High Court rules that a 177-caliber air rifle does not qualify as an 'arm' under the Arms Act, 1959, based on forensic evidence, quashing FIR and charge sheet against a student. The judgment clarifies that licensing requirements under Section 28 do not extend to air rifles, impacting future prosecutions under the Act.

Chhattisgarh High Court acquits accused in rape case, holding that prosecutrix's testimony must be of sterling quality and corroborated by medical and scientific evidence to sustain conviction.