Shraddha Murder Case: Aftab Completes Series of Polygraph Tests

Aaftab Amin Poonawala, the accused in the Shraddha Walakar Mehrauli murder case, has completed his latest polygraph test. This time, Poonawala spent about two and a half hours at the facility where his test was being done. The police want to see if there are discrepancies in his statements.

According to officials, Poonawala was taken to a Forensic Science Laboratory in Delhi at around 4 p.m. and he left at around 6:30 p.m. He was asked about the series of events that led to the murder, their relationship, the type of weapon he used, the place where the body parts were dumped, and more. His previous test last for nearly eight hours but he was allegedly unwell and the officials found it difficult to record his statements.

The accused is being put through a series of polygraph tests as the police want to find discrepancies in his statements. This was his third and last session and now, all sessions including the pre, main, and post-stages related to the test have been completed. The results will be given to investigators within two-three days.

A senior FSL official said, “Our forensic experts will analyze the recordings and make a report accordingly. He (Poonawala) can be called again if the experts are not satisfied with the report. Based on the outcome of the report, a decision will be taken on conducting narco analysis which can be carried out even if he is sent to judicial custody.”

On May 18, Poonawala murdered his live-in partner Shradha Walkar, both of whom eloped to Delhi from Mumbai as their families disapproved of their relationship. They had an argument over something that escalated and ended with Walkar being strangled. Poonawala then cut her body into 35 pieces and proceeded to dispose of them in Mehrauli forest for the next 18 days. He was arrested earlier this month and confessed to the murder. The police have been searching for Walkar’s body parts and the murder weapon.

The police are yet to recover the murder weapon and the victim’s head.

Vineet Washington