The court docket pointed out that the hash worth of an digital document was claimed to be like a fingerprint, making sure the authenticity of a document
The court docket pointed out that the hash benefit of an digital document was claimed to be like a fingerprint, making certain the authenticity of a document
The Kerala Substantial Courtroom on Tuesday directed the Ernakulam Extra Exclusive Classes Court making an attempt the actor sexual assault circumstance to forward in two times the memory card that contains the video clip of the sexual assault on the actor to the Condition forensic science laboratory, Thiruvananthapuram for examination in look at of a change in the hash benefit of the card.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas also directed the forensic science laboratory to analyse the card and submit a report to the investigation officer with a duplicate to the classes court in a sealed deal with within just 7 days from the receipt of the memory card.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas also established aside the order of the classes courtroom rejecting the plea of the crime department in search of to forward the memory card to the forensic laboratory for evaluation.
Enabling the petition filed by the Crime Branch difficult the periods court docket buy, the Judge observed “the current need of the investigation is not for initiating any motion, but only for ascertaining sure aspects, which it assumes to be of relevance in the investigation. If in scenario, for the duration of the demo, the Court is called upon to sort an impression on the electronic document, specifically that relating to the transform in hash worth or the information of the memory card, the prosecution need to be able to provide the requisite evidence. The viewpoint of the Examiner of the electronic record gets a suitable point underneath portion 45A of the Indian Proof Act 1872. If the Investigating Officer is not supplied with an opportunity to create just before the Courtroom these kinds of view, which may possibly demonstrate the modify in the hash price or its effect, it can guide to a failure of justice. Hence, declining to permit the ask for to forward the document for examination is a manifest error and the exact same requires to be corrected. The impugned order Ext.P4 is as a result liable to be established apart.”
The court pointed out that the hash worth of an digital doc was claimed to be like a fingerprint, making sure the authenticity of a doc. The change in hash benefit could be thanks to various motives. No matter whether the change in hash price was of any relevance or not could not be made the decision or considered at this stage of the proceedings. Having said that, the court could not foresee, no matter if or not the prosecution may well be called on to clarify the purpose for the improve in the hash worth.
The court docket additional that just after the investigation became knowledgeable of the change in hash worth of the document, the failure to establish the purpose for the adjust in hash price could, however not automatically, drop in the realm of a lacuna in the prosecution scenario, arising out of an incomplete investigation.
“To deny the request of the investigation to ahead the document for re-analysis can have the risk of prejudicing the investigation and in switch the prosecution. Even if ultimately, the analysis of the doc is located to be superfluous, or of no consequence, nonetheless, the claimed aspect of investigation and of the prosecution cannot be prejudged. As a result, the contention that the details sought are previously out there to the prosecution is of no avail”, the court docket extra
The criminal offense branch its petition contended that the refusal of its plea by the sessions court quantities to interference in the investigation. It pointed out that the FSL professionals experienced recognized a change in the hash price, indicative of unauthorised accessibility all through the evaluation of the memory card at FSL, Thiruvananthapuram on January 10, 2020, for the goal of creating a cloned copy.
Though the modify in hash value was noted to the trial court docket on January 29, 2020, it was not disclosed to the prosecution until February. Even so, instantly on obtaining to know the improve in the hash worth, the prosecution asked for for forensic assessment as part of more investigation into the situation. Having said that, its request was refused by the classes court docket.
