Supreme Court of India Lucknow Twelve-Year-Old Girl Murder Acquittal Case

In 2025, the Supreme Court of India heard an appeal against the conviction of two men for the abduction, sexual assault and murder of a twelve-year-old girl from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The victim's body was discovered in a sugarcane field in February 2025. The trial court had sentenced the accused to death based on circumstantial evidence and DNA samples. However, the Supreme Court bench identified critical lapses: the DNA collection was not properly documented, the chain of custody was broken, and key witnesses turned hostile. The bench held that the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, setting aside the conviction and ordering immediate acquittal. The case underscored systemic flaws in evidence handling and investigative rigor.

The Supreme Court of India unanimously acquitted both defendants, setting aside the death penalty imposed by the Lucknow trial court. The court directed their immediate release, citing a fatal failure by the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Whether the circumstantial evidence, contaminated forensic samples and uncorroborated witness testimonies could sustain a capital conviction; whether the police investigation violated the chain of custody, making the DNA evidence inadmissible; and whether the trial court ignored material contradictions in the prosecution's narrative.

The acquittal triggered widespread public outrage and protests across Uttar Pradesh, with women's rights groups and child protection organizations condemning the verdict as a failure of the justice delivery system. There were renewed calls for strict forensic protocols, police accountability, and witness protection reforms. Legal experts debated the balance between the presumption of innocence and the protection of vulnerable victims. The case became a focal point in parliamentary discussions on amendments to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.