KOCHI: The High Court has said that no permission is needed from the accused, involved in a criminal case, to take blood samples for DNA testing. The court also said that there is no block in collecting the samples of other accused in rape cases.

The High Court order comes after quashing the plea of the first accused in a rape case against the prosecution’s demand for blood samples for DNA testing. The accused is a native of Pathanamthitta, Anu aka Das. Three more accused are there, who tried to assault the victim in a bid to force abort her pregnancy.

The victim gave latter gave birth to a girl. The trial did not happen as the first accused was absconding. The third and fourth accused who faced the trial were let off. The Trial began only after the surrender of the plaintiff.