Cyber expert deleted data from Dileep's phone on lawyer's request: Reports

Representational image.

Kochi: A cyber forensic expert, who has been questioned several times over the probe into the cases in which actor Dileep is a party, has reportedly given a statement that a defence lawyer had asked him to destroy digital evidence in the conspiracy case. This was indicated by sources in the Crime Branch probing the case.

The cyber forensic expert, Sai Shankar, is a native of Kozhikode. His help was allegedly sought to irretrievably delete data from Dileep's iPhone. Dileep did not directly contact Sai Shankar as per the statement he had first given.

Dileep is the first accused in the case pertaining to the alleged conspiracy to harm a couple of cops who had investigated the sexual assault of an actress in 2017.

The lawyer reportedly called Sai Shankar to Kochi to ‘shred’ some data on Dileep's phone. Sai Shankar in his statement claimed that he did not seek any payment for this.

Incidentally, Sai Shankar is the second accused in a 2015 honeytrap case registered at the Thripunithura police station.

Crime Branch Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) M Baiju Paulose, who probed the 2017 case, had arrested Sai Shankar and the other accused in the honeytrap case. His family members were unaware of his criminal activities. Later, his estranged wife died by suicide while she was five-months pregnant. Sai Shankar got married again and shifted his residence to Kozhikode.

The cyber forensic examination had recently revealed that a laptop with the user id 'Isa Sabrina Cyril', which was connected to Dileep's iPhone, was used for deleting data. The probe team also found that the laptop was in the name of Sai Shankar's second wife.

HC issues notice to DySP, government

Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court has issued a notice over a petition filed by Sagar Vincent, a witness in the actress assault case, alleging that the police were threatening him to change his statement. The notice was issued to DySP Baiju Paulose and the government.

The petition will be considered again next week.

The petitioner had worked at ‘Laksyah’, a boutique that belongs to the brother of actress Kavya Madhavan, who is Dileep's wife.

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