On 26 August 2025, the SC acquitted two men convicted for the 2012 rape-murder of a 12-year-old, citing inadequate DNA and forensic evidence. The Court overturned Putai’s death sentence and Dileep’s life term, underscoring the need for reliable scientific evidence in criminal trials. This precedent strengthens the defence’s ability to challenge weak forensic links in sexual offence prosecutions.

In a landmark order, the SC allowed death row convict Vasanta Sampat Dupare to reopen sentencing, citing non-compliance with Manoj v. State of MP (2022) safeguards. By invoking Article 32 as a corrective tool, the Court has carved a narrow but powerful remedy for capital cases. Defence lawyers gain a new pathway to challenge final death sentences where procedural safeguards are breached.