Supreme Court Acquits in High-Profile Murder Case: Questions Reliability of Forensic Evidence

In a landmark judgment that has sent ripples through the legal community, the Supreme Court of India, comprising Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha, overturned a previous murder conviction, citing significant doubts about the reliability and sufficiency of forensic evidence. The case, which has captured public attention, concluded on January 5, 2024, with the acquittal of the appellant previously convicted of murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

The apex court’s decision focused heavily on the inconsistencies in the forensic evidence presented by the prosecution. In their keenly observed judgment, the justices noted, “The FSL report states that the blood on the sticks, blood-stained pants, and the blood group of the deceased is the same ‘O+.’ This is not an indication of the guilt.” This critical observation raised questions about the conclusive nature of such forensic findings in criminal trials.

Further, the court highlighted the discrepancies in the recovery of evidence. “Nothing of these recoveries took place in the presence of an independent witness,” the judgment pointed out, underlining the importance of transparency and procedural rigor in criminal investigations.

The case, originally resulting in a life sentence, was built on circumstantial evidence and witness testimonies, which the Supreme Court found to be fraught with improbabilities and inconsistencies. The justices emphasized the necessity of having indisputable evidence to convict in cases reliant on circumstantial evidence.

Date of Decision: January 5, 2024

 PRADEEP KUMAR VS STATE OF HARYANA