Putai vs State of Uttar Pradesh 2025 INSC 1042 -S.293 CrPC - DNA Report- Death Sentence Acquittal

Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 - Section 293 : BNSS, 2023 -Section 329 - Only evidence of formal nature can be given on affidavits- DNA Reports - DNA report is substantive piece of evidence and hence, the same could not have been tendered in evidence through an affidavit and that too of an officer who was not connected with the procedure in any manner. (Para 75) When no document pertaining to collection of the blood samples from the accused was produced and exhibited in evidence, SC said it renders the DNA reports to be a piece of trash paper. (Para 75) [Context: Supreme Court acquitted accused who was sentenced to death sentence for rape and murder and observed: prosecution has fallen woefully short of proving the guilt of the accused by clinching evidence which can be termed as proving the case beyond all manner of doubt]