The Allahabad High Court has expressed worry about the inadequate forensic facilities in Uttar Pradesh, stating that deficiencies in DNA analysis are impacting the handling of serious crimes like rape and murder. Granting bail to a defendant in an alleged rape and murder case in Etah district, the court highlighted that the forensic report failed to definitively link the accused to the crime through DNA evidence. The case involves the death of a woman whose body was discovered near a river in November 2025.
The prosecution initially filed an FIR against unknown individuals after the victim went missing while disposing of cow dung. Later, the accused was implicated based on witness statements placing him near the scene. The defense argued that the accused’s name was not in the original FIR and was added later through subsequent witness testimonies. It also contended that the recovery of the victim’s watch from an open field was insufficient to prove his involvement in the alleged crime.
The defendant argued that the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report did not support the rape allegations, as the DNA profile of the accused did not match the DNA material from the victim’s vaginal smear. The Allahabad High Court, while granting bail, noted similar issues in cases involving rape followed by murder, where the DNA analysis failed to determine the DNA source in the vaginal swab. The court emphasized the critical need for a complete DNA profile in investigations and forensic processes.
Referring to a previous case, the court highlighted the challenges faced by forensic laboratories in Uttar Pradesh, including staff shortages and outdated DNA-testing equipment. Outdated machines and inadequate infrastructure were identified as major obstacles to generating conclusive DNA profiles, impacting the criminal justice system. The court urged the state government to address these deficiencies by providing modern equipment and sufficient manpower to forensic labs across the state.
