The survivor seeks a court-monitored probe into the “possible copying and transmitting of the eight video recordings of the crime.”
| Photo Credit: File
The survivor in the 2017 actor rape case has moved the Kerala High Court seeking a fresh investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the alleged illegal access to the memory card in which the visuals of the sexual attack were recorded.In a petition filed on Friday, the survivor has sought to quash the Ernakulam District and Sessions Judge’s inquiry report into the alleged illegal access and to order a fresh time-bound, fair, and comprehensive investigation into the “unauthorised and illegal access” to the memory card and the pen drive, which contained the visuals. She has also sought a court-monitored probe into the “possible copying and transmitting of the eight video recordings of the crime.”The actor, in her plea, has sought to issue directions to include an expert in cyber/ digital forensics in the SIT and to send the pen drive containing the video recordings for an “independent scientific analysis regarding dates and times of illegal and unauthorised access and the possibility of copying and transmission of its contents.” The survivor said it was revealed in the inquiry that the memory card and the pen drive were accessed thrice.Dileep acquittedIncidentally, the sessions court had earlier acquitted actor Dileep, who was arraigned as the eighth accused in the case, while convicting six others.The inquiry by the sessions court was “conducted in direct violation of principles of natural justice.” "It was conducted in the shadow of secrecy without any assistance from independent experts, the police or allowing participation from the victim in violation of the directions of the High Court, “according to the petition.The survivor also complained that the inquiry breached the “fundamental requirement of an unbiased, fair inquiry.”Though it was revealed in the inquiry that the pen drive containing the video recordings of the gang rape was in the personal possession of Mahesh Mohan, a court staff member, for over five months, the inquiry authority did not conduct any further probe into the possible transmission and copying of the contents from the pen drive. The inquiry report also failed to highlight this illegality to the attention of the High Court. No scientific witnesses were ever examined during the inquiry, she complained.The inquiry authority also did not look into question whether any undue financial enrichment or gains were made by those who illegally accessed the memory card and removed it from the lawful custody of the court, according to the petition. Published - June 05, 2026 09:26 pm IST
