“In Heat Of the Moment”: Aftab Poonawala to Delhi court on Shraddha’s murder

Aaftab Poonawala, accused of murdering and dismembering his live-in partner, was produced before a metropolitan magistrate in Saket court via video conferencing on Tuesday, where he stated that whatever is being said about him on social media is “not entirely true.”

The Saket court extended the police custody of Poonawala to four more days.

Poonawala reportedly stated in court that the ordeal occurred “in the heat of the moment”. He claimed that he had not intended to do so, but acted in a fit of rage. He also stated to the court that he was provoked by Walkar, which is why he hit her. He further went on to claim that Walkar was mentally harassing him leading up to the incident.

When asked by the magistrate if any mistreatment occurred during the investigation, the accused supposedly stated that he is cooperating with the police, who are treating him well.

Poonawala’s lawyer, Avinash Kumar, spoke to media outlets informing, “Aftab told the court that he was cooperating but he can’t recall everything at once and will inform as and when he does. He also told the judge that he was provoked because of which he hit.”

It is pertinent to note that while speaking to media outlets, Kumar claimed that his client had not confessed to the murder.

“Police will probably take him for a site visit for evidence collection. The Narco test will be conducted soon. Aftab has requested to meet his family to which the court has granted permission,” Kumar continued further.

The Saket court also authorised for Poonawala to take a polygraph test before Narco analysis.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea was filed on Monday for the case to be taken over by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), but the PIL has since been rejected.

Petitioner Advocate Joshini Tuli cited in the plea that the case should be handed over by the Delhi Police  “due to the sensitive nature of the case and the hampering of Investigation and tampering of witnesses and evidence of the present case by the Delhi Police/ Respondent No.1 and Respondent No.4.”

It also mentioned that the investigation at Mehrauli police “cannot be carried out efficiently due to administrative/staff paucity as well as lack of sufficient technical and scientific equipment to find out the evidence and the witnesses as the incident had taken place about 6 months back in May 2022.”

Delhi Police remains on the lookout for the dismembered body parts of the victim, out of which 18 bones including the base of a skull have been found so far. Police authorities have also been probing the locations specified by Poonawala in an effort to retrieve the saw and the blade supposedly used during the dismembering process.

A Forensic team on Tuesday broke the bathroom tiles at Poonawala’s residence, behind which they found traces of blood.