Court Denies Return of Seized Devices in Extortion Case

A special court in Mumbai has denied Aniksha Jaisinghani's request for the return of her seized electronic devices, which are part of an ongoing investigation into her alleged extortion of Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The court emphasized the importance of preserving potential evidence, noting that returning the gadgets could risk tampering. Jaisinghani argued that she required the devices for her defense as a law student, but the court deemed these claims insufficient given the ongoing forensic analysis. The police indicated a backlog at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), which has delayed the processing of her devices since May 2023. The case involves accusations that Jaisinghani threatened to release compromising material unless she was paid Rs 10 crore to clear her father's name from charges. The court has instructed the police to prioritize the forensic analysis of her gadgets moving forward.