Delhi Court Postpones Hearing in Shraddha Walker Murder Case

Court Delays Proceedings Due to Exam Schedule

A Delhi court has decided to cancel the proceedings scheduled for July 20 in the Shraddha Walker murder case. The accused, Aftab Amin Poonawala, informed the court that he would be taking his final MA Sociology exam at Tihar Jail on that date. Consequently, the court has instructed that the prosecution's evidence will now be recorded starting from July 21 at 2 PM, while all previously set dates will remain unchanged. This trial, which began in 2023, is linked to the alleged murder of 27-year-old Walker by Poonawala in May 2022. Additional Sessions Judge Hargurvinder Singh Jaggi noted that Poonawala's exams, organized by Indira Gandhi National Open University, are scheduled to take place from July 11 to July 20 at an examination center located within Tihar Central Jail, where he is currently incarcerated.

Details of the Court's Decision

In an order dated July 8, the court acknowledged Poonawala's request to be excused from appearing in court on July 20, as he would be occupied with his final exam from 2 PM to 5 PM. The court accepted his application and subsequently canceled the hearing for that day. Initially, the prosecution was set to present evidence daily from July 20 to July 25. However, the dates for proceedings scheduled in August have yet to be determined.

Remaining Witnesses and Allegations

According to the prosecution, there are still eight witnesses left to be questioned. Preliminary testimonies from 13 witnesses have been partially recorded, while the testimonies of 12 others have been postponed. The prosecution alleges that Walker, who worked at a call center, was murdered by her live-in partner Poonawala in their rented flat in Delhi's Mehrauli area. It is claimed that he strangled her, dismembered her body, stored the parts in a refrigerator, and disposed of them in various locations across Delhi, including a forested area.