Actor Assault Case | Kerala High Court Asks Prosecution To Collect & Submit Cloned Copy Of Memory Card In A Sealed Cover Before Trial Court By Monday

The time extension petition had attached a copy of the report received from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) which disclosed compelling evidence suggesting that the memory card was accessed three times while it was in the custody of the trial court. This report comes after the High Court recently allowed the Crime Branch's plea challenging the order of the Special Sessions Court rejecting its petition to forward the memory card for forensic examination.

The State Forensic Science Lab found that the memory was accessed on January 9, 2018, December 13, 2018, and finally on July 19, 2021. It was also argued by the Crime Branch that the forensic expert who filed the examination report should be examined before the trial court in detail to unearth the truth behind such unauthorised access, which required more time.

The said memory card was initially forwarded to a forensic laboratory for examination. Later on, it was forwarded to another laboratory to make a cloned copy upon Dileep's request, as permitted by the Supreme Court.

However, during the examination of the memory card, the FSL experts noticed a change in the hash value of the card, which indicates unauthorised access. Immediately, upon coming to know about the change in the hash value, the prosecution requested another forensic examination of the card to avoid the likelihood of the accused taking undue advantage of the same.

Nevertheless, the trial court dismissed this plea citing that the memory card was kept in the safe custody of the court since its production. The High Court subsequently allowed the request of the prosecution. 

Notably, the crime branch further submitted that it had to question former DGP R Sreelekha IPS, who recently alleged that actor Dileep was 'innocent' in the case apart from other statements which were contradictory to the outcome of the investigation.

As such, they had sought three more weeks' time.

Last month, the Court had granted the prosecution an extension till July 15 to complete the investigation. However, the Single Judge had then clarified that the further investigation cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely.