Actor assault case: Memory card illegally examined thrice; survivor moves high court

KOCHI: The fact-finding report of the district judge upheld the allegation of the survivor that the crucial evidence in the actor assault case was illegally examined. The report said Adimali Magistrate Leena Rasheed, district judge's personal assistant Mahesh and trial court sheristadar Thajuddeen examined the memory card. An investigation was conducted under the direction of the district judge as per the instructions of the high court on the allegation of the leakage of the memory card. The report contains findings that validates the allegations. The report also has a serious finding that the Angamaly Magistrate kept the memory card in private custody in 2018. The statement was that did this thinking that it could be kept in that way.

District judge’s PA Mahesh examined the memory card on his own phone on December 13 in 2018. The statement was that the search conducted at night was as per the instructions of the judge. It has not been examined whether the judge had directed such an examination. The trial court sheristadar Thajuddeen examined the memory card on July 19 in 2021. He examined using his own phone. A statement was given that he lost this phone during a trip in 2022. Although it became clear that illegal searches have taken place many times, the phones that have been checked have not been seized or further action has been suggested. Following this, the survivor has again approached the high court demanding the cancellation of the fact-finding report protecting the criminals. The survivor alleged that the report is to protect his colleagues and that the report was prepared on the basis of the statement without taking the evidence into custody and examining it.

The survivor also requested the court that a police officer not below the rank of IG investigate the case by cancelling the report prepared after conducting a secret investigation.