Gujarat: High court lets off dad on death row for pregnant teen’s rape and murder AHMEDABAD: Gujarat high court has acquitted a father sentenced to death by a Surat trial court for the rape and murder of his pregnant teenage daughter, citing procedural lapses for refusing to accept the DNA report that led to his conviction as “credible evidence”.The case involves a 14-year-old migrant girl from Odisha whose body was found on Surat’s Dumas beach on June 29, 2017. An autopsy revealed she was pregnant and had been strangled to death. After her father’s arrest based on circumstantial evidence, the prosecution relied on DNA matching of the foetus and the accused to build what became the “cornerstone” of his Jan 2020 conviction under IPC and the Pocso Act.The case was turned on its head when the state govt sought the high court’s confirmation of the death sentence. “The prosecution failed to prove all necessary circumstances by reliable and clinching evidence, which would constitute a complete chain without a snap, as would permit a conclusion other than the one of the guilt of the accused,” the division bench of Justices Ilesh Vora and R T Vachhani said.The judges ruled that DNA samples of the victim’s unborn baby and the accused may have been “compromised” due to multiple lapses, including a 13-day delay in submitting these to the designated forensic laboratory and failure to preserve highly sensitive biological material in an ice box.About the AuthorSaeed KhanSaeed Khan is a Senior Assistant Editor with the Times of India at Ahmedabad. He reports on all the courts in the city and legal issues. He occasionally reports on cultural and social issues as well.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBangladesh Situation Remains Very Fluid as Unrest Grows Ahead of 2026 Elections: Journalist”Stop This Nonsense…”: Tharoor Lambasts Bangladesh Govt Over Lynching of Hindu ManEnd Of H-1B Lottery: Donald Trump Overhauls US Work Visa System Prioritising High Pay And SkillsISRO’s Heaviest Launch Yet: Five Reasons Why BlueBird-2 Marks India’s Big Leap In Global Space Race‘Mouths shut when Hindus are killed’: Yogi targets opposition in Assembly”We Are Not Safe…” Unnao Rape Victim’s Mother Manhandled, Protest StoppedIndian Travel Vlogger Anant Mittal Held In China, Comments On Arunachal Pradesh Trigger DetentionFrom Pride To Distress Sale: Pakistan Sells State-Owned PIA For Rs 135 Billion As Economy BucklesCalm With India, Weapons For Pakistan: Pentagon Report Warns Of China’s Strategic Balancing ActAssam’s Karbi Anglong Gripped By Violence, Internet Suspended As Anger Over ‘Encroachers’ Explodes123PhotostoriesFrom ‘My Secret Santa’ to ‘Meet Me Next Christmas’: Best Christmas movies to watch on OTT6 Christmas morning breakfast ideas that feel special without trying too hard2 easy recipes that lower blood pressure naturallyTotal number of Birkin bags owned by Jane Birkin: The answer will surprise you10 cheapest countries to visit with surprisingly low daily costs2026 Spiritual Guide For Your Birth Number: How to Strengthen Your Inner Self2025’s headline-grabbing star kids:Aryan Khan, Rasha Thadani, Shanaya Kapoor and more7 comforting winter raitas to add warmth to daily mealsMeet 7 birds of Indian forests that are also masters of camouflageYear ender 2025: Love anthems that ruled playlists from ‘Metro… In Dino’ to ‘Saiyara’123Hot PicksUAE WeatherPAN-Aadhaar linkingKarbi Anglong CurfewGold rate todayIncome Tax RefundPublic Holidays DecemberBank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingTaylor SwiftPaul RuddPatrick MahomesMegan Thee Stallion Net Worth 2025Travis KelceJoel EmbiidSavannah James Net WorthSophie CunninghamDrew McIntyre and Kaitlyn Frohnapfel Net WorthKhamzat Chimaev
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat high court has acquitted a father sentenced to death by a Surat trial court for the rape and murder of his pregnant teenage daughter, citing procedural lapses for refusing to accept the DNA report that led to his conviction as “credible evidence”.The case involves a 14-year-old migrant girl from Odisha whose body was found on Surat’s Dumas beach on June 29, 2017. An autopsy revealed she was pregnant and had been strangled to death. After her father’s arrest based on circumstantial evidence, the prosecution relied on DNA matching of the foetus and the accused to build what became the “cornerstone” of his Jan 2020 conviction under IPC and the Pocso Act.The case was turned on its head when the state govt sought the high court’s confirmation of the death sentence. “The prosecution failed to prove all necessary circumstances by reliable and clinching evidence, which would constitute a complete chain without a snap, as would permit a conclusion other than the one of the guilt of the accused,” the division bench of Justices Ilesh Vora and R T Vachhani said.The judges ruled that DNA samples of the victim’s unborn baby and the accused may have been “compromised” due to multiple lapses, including a 13-day delay in submitting these to the designated forensic laboratory and failure to preserve highly sensitive biological material in an ice box.