Overview
- The High Court directed the Ernakulam District and Sessions Court to send the memory card and pen drive in a sealed cover to the Registrar General for safe custody, a move the court made on Friday to secure the exhibits.
- Justice C.S. Dias admitted the survivor’s petition seeking a Special Investigation Team and issued notice to the Kerala government, giving it one month to file a counter-affidavit.
- A Forensic Science Laboratory report cited in filings found the card’s hash value had changed and that eight assault videos were last accessed on December 13, 2018, raising questions about unauthorized access.
- The survivor says the earlier fact‑finding inquiry was biased and did not consult forensic experts, and she is seeking a time‑bound, court‑monitored SIT with cyber and digital forensic specialists.
- If the court orders an independent forensic probe, its findings could clarify chain‑of‑custody failures, affect prospects for further action against suspects, and bear on the survivor’s privacy and dignity.