CFSL expert asked about key evidence

During the examination,the defence counsel asked Mahapatra whether he was part of the team which visited the crime scene on June 1,2008,to collect evidence. When Mahapatra said he was a signatory to the seizure memo which details the objects taken from the crime scene,he was asked if he remembered if the pillow cover was found in Aarushi’s room. Mahapatra said,“I do not remember exactly where the pillow cover was found as this was the responsibility of the investigating officer. According to the letter of the Superintendent of Police (CBI),this was found from the room of Arushi.”

At an earlier date in court,Mahapatra had said that the pillow cover in question had traces of male DNA on it,causing the defence to challenge whether it was found in Arushi’s room at all. The defence counsel said,“He was part of the team that collected the evidence but still says that he does not remember. He is trying to mislead the court.”

He was asked similar questions on the location of a blanket reportedly found on the terrace of the house as well as about the sequence followed when evidence was collected.