Shraddha Walkar murder accused to write MA exam, court cancels July 20 hearing
A Delhi court has cancelled proceedings in the Shraddha Walkar murder case on July 20 after accused Aaftab Amin Poonawala told the court he would
A Delhi court has cancelled proceedings in the Shraddha Walkar murder case on July 20 after accused Aaftab Amin Poonawala told the court he would be appearing for his final MA Sociology examination at Tihar Jail that day. The court has now directed that prosecution evidence be recorded from July 21 onwards at 2 pm, while the remaining dates fixed earlier will continue. The trial, pending since 2023, relates to the alleged murder of 27-year-old Walkar by Poonawala in May 2022. Read Full Story Additional Sessions Judge Hargurvarinder Singh Jaggi noted that Poonawala's examinations, conducted by Indira Gandhi Open University, are scheduled from July 11 to July 20 at the examination centre inside Tihar Central Jail, where he is lodged while facing trial.
In its July 8 order, the court said, "Accused Aaftab Amin Poonawala stated in his application that he is scheduled to appear for his MA Sociology last exam on July 20 from 2 pm till 5pm at IGNOU Exam Centre located at Central Jail No. 03, Tihar. (date sheet of examination scheduled from July 11 till July 20) (sic)." Poonawala had sought exemption from being physically produced before the court on July 20, saying his final examination would be held from 2 pm to 5 pm that day. Accepting the plea, the court cancelled the July 20 hearing.
The matter had earlier been listed for day-to-day recording of prosecution evidence from July 20 to July 25. Dates for proceedings in August are yet to be decided. According to the prosecution, eight witnesses are yet to be examined. The initial examination of 13 prosecution witnesses has been partly recorded, while the testimony of 12 witnesses was deferred. The prosecution has alleged that Walkar, who worked at a call centre, was murdered by her live-in partner Poonawala in their rented flat in Delhi's Mehrauli. It alleged that he strangled her, chopped her body into multiple pieces, stored them in a refrigerator and disposed of them over several days in different parts of Delhi, including a forested area.
Poonawala was arrested in November 2022. Walkar's father, Vikas Walkar, who had pursued the case after her death, died in 2025. In sum, the court has deferred the July 20 proceedings in view of Poonawala's examination, with the trial set to resume from July 21. Ends
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