In a recent ruling, a special Anti-Corruption Board (ACB) court has refused to return the electronic gadgets seized from Aniksha Jaisinghani, who is implicated in a bribery and extortion case involving Amruta Fadnavis, the wife of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The court has directed the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to expedite the analysis of the devices, highlighting the importance of maintaining the integrity of evidence in ongoing investigations.
Aniksha Jaisinghani, daughter of the alleged bookie Anil Jaisinghani, also accused in the case, had filed an application for the return of her iPhone and iPad. These devices were sent to the FSL for forensic analysis in May 2023 but have yet to be processed. The court’s decision on August 16 came after Jaisinghani claimed that the delay was hindering her ability to access information crucial for her defense.*
The police, opposing the plea, argued that additional time was required for cyber forensic officials to extract data from the devices, noting that the FSL is currently overwhelmed with a backlog of electronic materials. They expressed concerns that returning the devices could lead to potential tampering or destruction of evidence.
The controversy began when Amruta Fadnavis filed a complaint in February 2023 at Malabar police station, alleging that Aniksha Jaisinghani, posing as a designer, threatened to release voice notes and video clips to the public unless she was paid Rs 10 crore and her father’s name was cleared of all charges. Both Anil and Aniksha Jaisinghani face charges under sections 120 B (conspiracy) and 383 (extortion) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as the Prevention of Corruption Act.
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This case underscores the complexities of handling digital evidence in corruption and extortion investigations, as well as the judicial measures taken to safeguard the procedural integrity of legal processes.
