Allahabad High Court Grants Bail in Rape and Murder Case, Cites Lack of Conclusive Scientific Evidence

PTI, June 6, 2026, Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has granted bail to an accused in a rape and murder case with a "heavy heart and great pain" due to the lack of scientific evidence linking the suspect to the crime.

Granting bail, the Court said that it expects that the state government would provide high-end machines to Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL) and sufficient staff. It 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.

Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal allowed the bail application of the accused, Manoj, for the reason that the FSL report did not show that the DNA found in the vaginal smear of the deceased belonged to the applicant because of insufficient generation of the DNA profile.

The court expressed serious concerns over the state's FSL infrastructure.

"...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 court said.

The court, in its May 21 order, said, "Outdated machine as well as incomplete infrastructure in FSL is the main reason for non-generation of DNA profile and no one can be blamed except the State Government, which has many other issues to consider apart from the issue of providing basic infrastructure to FSL."

The court observed that inadequate forensic infrastructure was affecting the ability to conclusively determine crucial scientific evidence in criminal investigations.

Photo: Allahabad High Court building in Prayagraj, where the bench highlighted concerns regarding forensic infrastructure while granting bail in the case.