Delay In Shraddha Walkar Case Hearing Raises Questions Among Victim's Supporters

A Delhi court has cancelled proceedings scheduled for July 20 in the Shraddha Walkar murder case after accused Aaftab Amin Poonawala informed the court that he would be appearing for his final Master of Arts (MA) Sociology examination conducted by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) at Tihar Jail. The court accepted his request for exemption from physical production on that date and postponed further proceedings.

Additional Sessions Judge Hargurvarinder Singh Jaggi noted that Poonawala's examination schedule runs from July 11 to July 20, with the final paper scheduled at the IGNOU examination centre located inside Central Jail No. 3, Tihar, where he is currently lodged as an undertrial prisoner. The accused had submitted an application seeking exemption from appearing before the court physically on July 20, citing the timing of his examination.

In its order dated July 8, the court recorded that Poonawala's final MA Sociology examination was scheduled from 2 pm to 5 pm on July 20, 2026. After considering his request, the court allowed the application and cancelled the hearing fixed for that day. The court further directed that the recording of prosecution evidence would resume from July 21 at 2 pm, while other dates already fixed in the trial would remain unchanged.

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The prosecution has alleged that Poonawala murdered Shraddha Walkar in May 2022 and later attempted to conceal the crime by allegedly dismembering her body into multiple pieces. Investigators have claimed that the remains were stored in a refrigerator and disposed of over several days at different locations across Delhi. The case, which gained nationwide attention, led to extensive investigation involving forensic analysis, digital evidence and witness statements.

Poonawala was arrested in November 2022 after the case came to light following a complaint by Walkar's family. The Delhi Police subsequently filed a charge sheet against him, accusing him of murder and destruction of evidence. The prosecution has relied on various forms of evidence, including forensic findings, call records and other investigative material, as the trial continues before the Delhi court.

The matter has seen several procedural developments since the trial began, with the court regularly hearing arguments, examining evidence and addressing applications filed by both sides. Poonawala has remained in judicial custody throughout the proceedings. The court has previously scheduled multiple dates for recording prosecution evidence as the trial moves forward.

The latest order highlights the court's decision to balance judicial proceedings with the accused's right to pursue education while in custody. As Poonawala's final examination falls on the same day as the scheduled hearing, the court permitted the postponement of proceedings for that date. The trial is expected to continue from July 21, with prosecution evidence being recorded as per the revised schedule.

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