Aarushi case: 'Pillow fight' between lawyers

During his cross-examination in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder trial case, forensic expert BK Mahapatra told a Ghaziabad court that he did not remember details of locations from where samples were lifted. Peeyush Khandelwal reports.

During his cross-examination in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder trial case, forensic expert BK Mahapatra told a Ghaziabad court that he did not remember details of locations from where samples were lifted.

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Mahapatra was extensively questioned about a 'pillow with cover', which he had earlier stated was recovered from Aarushi's room and had evidence of "partial male DNA" on it.

On further questioning, he said that he did not remember where the samples were taken from. The expert was a part of team that went to the Talwars' residence on June 1, 2008, and was involved in the collection of 14 exhibits from the scene of crime.

Exhibit 13 of the inspection-memo had mentioned a 'pillow with cover' but did not mention the location from where it was collected.

During his earlier statement before the court, Mahapatra had stated that the pillow with cover had evidence of "partial male DNA" and was recovered from Aarushi's room. He had cited exhibit's location as per a forwarding-letter sent by CBI SP to Central Forensic Science Laboratory, New Delhi.

Mahapatra further stated that photographs were taken and a video made during the inspection.