Delhi Court Orders Day-To-Day Trial In Shraddha Walkar Murder Case From July 20

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Hargurvarinder Singh Jaggi of Saket Court listed the matter for recording prosecution evidence daily between July 20 and July 25, after which dates for August will be fixed. The case has been pending since 2023.

Aftab Amin Poonawala is facing trial for the alleged murder of his live-in partner, Shraddha Walkar, in May 2022. The FIR in the case was registered at Mehrauli police station in November 2022, with allegations that the accused dismembered the body and disposed of the remains in a forested area.

The Court noted that there are eight prosecution witnesses yet to be examined. While the chief examination of 13 witnesses has been partly recorded, testimony of 12 witnesses was deferred earlier.

During Friday’s proceedings, the Court recorded the evidence of Head Constable Deepak, who was discharged for the day after defence counsel sought time to examine a video linked to the case and expressed inability to attend daily hearings due to other matters.

Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Madhukar Pandey informed the Court that several applications seeking permission to examine witnesses via video conferencing under Rule 6 of the Delhi High Court Video Conferencing Rules, 2021 were pending. These include nodal officers from Google, Bumble, WhatsApp, Meta Platforms, and Hopper (USA).

The defence counsel stated that he did not wish to file a reply to these applications. The court reserved its order and will pronounce it on June 1 at 4 PM.

The Court, after hearing submissions from the prosecution and the complainant’s counsel, rejected objections raised regarding recording of evidence through video conferencing. The judge also observed that the accused may engage a new counsel if the current lawyer is unable to proceed with daily hearings due to scheduling constraints.

"Issue fresh summons to the following witnesses for their examination-of-chief for 20.07.2026 to 25.07.2026 at 02:00P.M. on a day to day basis. a) V.A. Girnar, DNA Examiner, CDFD Hyderabad (mentioned at serial No. 139 of the main chargesheet); b) Nodal Officer, Dealberg Pvt Ltd (mentioned at serial No. 13 of first supplementary chargesheet); c) Prakash Sexena, Nodal Officer, Jio (mentioned at serial No. 06 of 2nd supplementary chargesheet); d) PW -148 Inspector Sandeep Kumar (Part IO) (mentioned at serial No. 7 of the 2nd supplementary chargesheet); e) PW - 164 Inspector Ram Singh (Main IO). Issue fresh summons to PW-125 HC Deepak for conclusion of the cross examination on 27.07.2026 at 02:00P.M. Issue fresh summons to IO/Inspector Ram Singh, SI Ankit Sharma and MHC (M) with case property for each and every date of hearing. To come up for P.E. on a day to day basis w.e.f. 20.07.2026 to 25.07.2026 at 02:00P.M. To come up for cross examination of PW - 125 HC Deepak on 27.07.2026 at 02:00PM," the Court ordered. 

The matter will now proceed on a fast-tracked schedule beginning July 20.

On May 9, 2023, a Delhi Court had framed charges of murder and disappearance of evidence against Aftab Amin Poonawala who is accused of strangling his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar and chopping her body into pieces.

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Manisha Khurana Kakkar of Saket Court had framed charges against Poonawala under Section 302 (Murder) and Section 201 (Disappearance of Evidence) of the Indian Penal Code.

Aftab Poonawala pleaded not guilty to the charges and claimed to face trial. The matter has been set for trial and had been listed for the recording of prosecution evidence on June 1, 2023.

In April 2023, the Court had reserved order on ‘framing charges’ against Poonawala.