Kerala HC orders custody of memory card in 2017 actress assault case
Synopsis
The Kerala High Court has pulled the memory card at the heart of the 2017 actress assault case out of trial court custody and placed it with the Registrar General — a direct response to forensic findings that the evidence was allegedly accessed three times without authorisation while under judicial custody. With the state's appeal against Dileep's acquittal still pending, the digital evidence question could reshape the legal battle entirely.
Key Takeaways
Kerala High Court on 12 June ordered the memory card and pen drive from the 2017 actress assault case transferred to the Registrar General for safe custody.
Dias found the survivor had established a strong prima facie case for court-monitored scrutiny.
Forensic findings reportedly show the memory card was accessed on three occasions — 9 January 2018 , 13 December 2018 , and 19 July 2021 — while in trial court custody.
The survivor has sought an SIT probe involving forensic experts to determine whether the visuals were copied or transmitted.
Actor Dileep was acquitted by the trial court; the state's appeal is pending before the high court.
Two judges had previously recused themselves from this petition before the matter reached Justice Dias.
The Kerala High Court on Friday, 12 June directed that the memory card and pen drive containing visuals from the 2017 actress sexual assault case be transferred from the Ernakulam District and Sessions Court to the Registrar General of the High Court for safe custody. The order came as a bench of Justice C.S. Dias found that the survivor-actress had established a strong prima facie case warranting court-monitored scrutiny of the digital evidence.
What the Court Ordered
The bench directed that the exhibits — the memory card and pen drive — be dispatched in a sealed cover through a court messenger to the Registrar General, ensuring the integrity of the digital evidence while the petition is under consideration. The state has been asked to file a counter-affidavit, after which the matter will return before the court.
The Survivor's Allegations
The survivor first moved the high court in 2022, alleging that the memory card had been accessed without authorisation while under the custody of the trial court. Her latest petition cites forensic findings that reportedly indicate the memory card was accessed on three separate occasions — 9 January 2018, 13 December 2018, and 19 July 2021 — all while it remained in judicial custody. She has argued that the possibility of the visuals being copied or transmitted cannot be ruled out, constituting what she describes as a grave violation of her privacy, dignity, and right to justice.
A Long-Running Legal Battle
The high court had previously ordered a fact-finding inquiry by the trial court following the survivor's 2022 petition. However, she subsequently raised objections to the manner in which that inquiry was conducted, alleging it was neither fair nor comprehensive. In April 2024, the high court directed that copies of statements recorded during the inquiry be handed over to the survivor, while keeping open the question of a separate probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The survivor has now formally sought an SIT investigation involving forensic experts to determine how the digital evidence was accessed, copied, or transmitted.
Context: The Trial Verdict and Pending Appeals
The fresh petition arrives months after the trial court delivered its verdict in this high-profile case, which resulted in the acquittal of actor Dileep and the conviction of six others. The state's appeal against that verdict is currently pending before the high court. Notably, two judges had earlier recused themselves from hearing this fresh petition, adding a further layer of legal complexity to one of Kerala's most closely watched criminal proceedings.
What Happens Next
The matter is scheduled to return before the court one month after the state submits its counter-affidavit. The outcome of the SIT plea could have significant implications for how digital evidence is handled in sensitive criminal cases across the country.
Point of View
If substantiated, would represent a systemic failure in evidence chain-of-custody protocols, not merely a procedural lapse. With Dileep's acquittal under appeal and the survivor still fighting for a credible investigation into the evidence tampering, this case continues to test the limits of institutional accountability in India's criminal justice system. The recusal of two judges before this hearing reached Justice Dias is itself a detail mainstream coverage has underplayed — it signals the political and social weight this case still carries in Kerala's legal and public discourse.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Kerala High Court order in the 2017 actress assault case on 12 June?
The Kerala High Court directed that the memory card and pen drive containing visuals from the 2017 actress sexual assault case be transferred from the Ernakulam District and Sessions Court to the Registrar General of the High Court for safe custody. The bench of Justice C.S. Dias found the survivor had established a strong prima facie case for court-monitored protection of the digital evidence.
Why is the memory card at the centre of a fresh legal dispute?
Forensic findings cited by the survivor reportedly show that the memory card was accessed on three occasions — 9 January 2018, 13 December 2018, and 19 July 2021 — while it was under the custody of the trial court. The survivor argues this raises the possibility that the assault visuals were copied or transmitted without authorisation, violating her privacy and right to justice.
What is the survivor seeking through her petition?
The survivor has sought a fresh court-monitored investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising forensic experts to determine how the digital evidence was accessed, and whether it was copied or transmitted. She has previously raised objections to an earlier fact-finding inquiry, calling it neither fair nor comprehensive.
What was the outcome of the trial court verdict in the case?
The trial court acquitted actor Dileep and convicted six other accused in the 2017 actress assault case. The state has filed an appeal against the verdict, which is currently pending before the Kerala High Court.
What happens next in the case?
The matter will return before the Kerala High Court one month after the state files its counter-affidavit in response to the survivor's petition. The court's decision on the SIT plea could have wider implications for digital evidence handling in sensitive criminal cases.
