Actress assault case: Survivor moves HC demanding fresh probe into memory card hash value change

Kochi: Refusing to back down in her quest for justice, the survivor in the actress assault case has approached the Kerala High Court, demanding a fresh, fair and comprehensive investigation into the alteration of the memory card's hash value.

In her petition, the survivor has requested the court to quash the existing inquiry report submitted by the trial court, labeling it completely unsatisfactory. She has demanded that all related devices, including the pen drive onto which the memory card data was reportedly copied, be sent to a forensic laboratory to identify the culprits behind the illegal access.

Privacy breached and evidence tampered with

The survivor has continuously maintained that the video footage stored on the memory card is deeply tied to her right to privacy and should never be leaked or accessed illegally. However, scientific examinations previously confirmed that the unique hash value of the memory card—a crucial piece of evidence in the case—had changed, indicating unauthorised access while it was in judicial custody.

The trial court had earlier conducted an inquiry into this security breach and submitted a report. The survivor, however, contends that this probe failed to uncover the truth. Her petition emphasises that since scientific evidence clearly proves someone illegally accessed the memory card, a transparent, rigorous and expert-led re-examination is absolutely essential to find out how the hash value changed and who was responsible.

Interestingly, the change in the hash value came to light during the trial proceedings, catching even the state investigation team by surprise. Reports indicate that the survivor is gearing up for a major legal battle in the High Court and is planning to field senior advocates from the Supreme Court to argue her case.