Aftab Poonawala disputes murder charge of Shraddha Walkar; wants to face trial

New Delhi: Aftab Poonawala, accused of killing and dismembering his live-in lover Shraddha Walkar, was charged in Delhi's Saket court today. Poonawala had been charged by the Delhi Police with violating Sections 201 (destruction of evidence) and 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code, which the court has now framed after reviewing the police's supporting documentation.

But Poonawala vehemently disputed the accusations and wanted a trial. The case has been set for an additional hearing on June 1, NDTV reported.

On January 24, the Delhi Police submitted the case's 6,629-page charge sheet.

Late last month, Shraddha Walkar's father Vikas Walkar urged that the case be expedited so that he may carry out her death rites. He also threatened to go on a hunger strike if it was not accomplished within a month.

The hearing on an earlier motion by Vikas Walkar requesting the judge to hand the remains of his daughter back to the family for the last rites as required by tradition and culture had also been postponed until May 9.

Poonawala is accused of strangling Shraddha on May 18 of last year. He dismembered her body with a saw and stored the pieces at his Mehrauli home in south Delhi for almost three weeks before spreading them throughout the city.

Aftab has been in custody since November 12, 2022.

To prove the accusations against Poonawala, the Delhi Police collected DNA evidence, administered a polygraph test, and performed a narco-analysis test.

According to reports, more than 150 witnesses were questioned, and their statements have been documented. His voice sample was also taken by the police.

The Delhi High Court had stopped all news stations from showing the contents of the charge sheet on April 20 after finding that broadcasting the recording of the narco analysis would be detrimental to the case.