News Analysis India

Tag: Shraddha Walker

  • Process initiated, but Aaftab’s narco test may not happen on Monday

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The narco analysis test on Aaftab Amin Poonawala who has been accused of killing live-in-partner will not be conducted on Monday even as the process required to do it has been initiated, officials said.

    A senior FSL official said that an elaborate discussion was held on Sunday with the Delhi Police team probing the Shraddha Walker murder case.

    The matter has been taken up but before going for a narco analysis test, a series of tests need to be conducted, and the process for the same has been initiated, the official said.

    The pre-narco test will be conducted to ascertain his emotional, mental, psychological and physiological well-being. If any of these are found to be disturbed, the narco analysis test will not happen.

    As Poonawala’s five-day police custody ends on Tuesday, the Delhi Police is running against time to get the test conducted. The narco-analysis test will be conducted at Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital here in Rohini here.

    In an order dated November 17, a Delhi court had directed the city police to complete the narco-analysis test within five days, while making it clear that it cannot use any third-degree measure on him.

    Narco analysis, also known as truth serum, involves the intravenous administration of a drug (such as sodium pentothal, scopolamine and sodium amytal) that causes the person undergoing it to enter into various stages of anaesthesia.

    In the hypnotic stage, the person becomes less inhibited and is more likely to divulge information, which would usually not be revealed in the conscious state.

    Investigating agencies use this test after other evidences do not provide a clear picture of the case.

    The Delhi Police had earlier said it sought Poonawala’s narco analysis test as his responses during interrogation were “deceptive” in nature.

    The Supreme Court has ruled that narco-analysis, brain mapping and polygraph tests cannot be conducted on any person without his or her consent.

    Also, statements made during this test are not admissible as primary evidence in the court, except under certain circumstances when the bench thinks that the facts and nature of the case permit it.

    Twenty-eight-year-old Poonawala allegedly strangled his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar and sawed her body into 35 pieces which he kept in a 300-litre fridge for almost three weeks at his residence in South Delhi’s Mehrauli before dumping them across the city over several days past midnight.

    NEW DELHI: The narco analysis test on Aaftab Amin Poonawala who has been accused of killing live-in-partner will not be conducted on Monday even as the process required to do it has been initiated, officials said.

    A senior FSL official said that an elaborate discussion was held on Sunday with the Delhi Police team probing the Shraddha Walker murder case.

    The matter has been taken up but before going for a narco analysis test, a series of tests need to be conducted, and the process for the same has been initiated, the official said.

    The pre-narco test will be conducted to ascertain his emotional, mental, psychological and physiological well-being. If any of these are found to be disturbed, the narco analysis test will not happen.

    As Poonawala’s five-day police custody ends on Tuesday, the Delhi Police is running against time to get the test conducted. The narco-analysis test will be conducted at Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital here in Rohini here.

    In an order dated November 17, a Delhi court had directed the city police to complete the narco-analysis test within five days, while making it clear that it cannot use any third-degree measure on him.

    Narco analysis, also known as truth serum, involves the intravenous administration of a drug (such as sodium pentothal, scopolamine and sodium amytal) that causes the person undergoing it to enter into various stages of anaesthesia.

    In the hypnotic stage, the person becomes less inhibited and is more likely to divulge information, which would usually not be revealed in the conscious state.

    Investigating agencies use this test after other evidences do not provide a clear picture of the case.

    The Delhi Police had earlier said it sought Poonawala’s narco analysis test as his responses during interrogation were “deceptive” in nature.

    The Supreme Court has ruled that narco-analysis, brain mapping and polygraph tests cannot be conducted on any person without his or her consent.

    Also, statements made during this test are not admissible as primary evidence in the court, except under certain circumstances when the bench thinks that the facts and nature of the case permit it.

    Twenty-eight-year-old Poonawala allegedly strangled his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar and sawed her body into 35 pieces which he kept in a 300-litre fridge for almost three weeks at his residence in South Delhi’s Mehrauli before dumping them across the city over several days past midnight.

  • Fight began over household expenses before Shraddha’s murder: Aaftab reveals 

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Aaftab Amin Poonawala, who had allegedly strangled his live-in partner Shraddha Walker to death and chopped her body into 35 pieces, dumped it in the Chhattarpur area of south Delhi, had told police that before the murder there was a fight between the couple over the shifting of household items from Mumbai.

    Police investigation revealed that the couple had a fight on May 18 during which Aaftab killed Shraddha. Delhi Police sources said the May 18 quarrel was not the first time, Aaftab and Shraddha were fighting for three years.

    “On May 18, there was a fight between the two regarding bringing household items from Mumbai. They used to fight over who would bear the household expenses and bring items. Aaftab got very angry about this. The quarrel started around 8 pm on May 18 when Aaftab strangled Shraddha to death. He kept her body in the room overnight and went to buy a knife and refrigerator the next day,” sources told ANI.

    Aaftab was arrested on Saturday after Delhi police started probing into a missing complaint filed by Shraddha’s father Vikas Walker.

    ALSO READ | Shraddha murder case: This is how Delhi Police caught Aftab’s lie

    Aaftab had attempted to dupe the police of Delhi and Mumbai in the initial days of the investigation.

    Aaftab had tried to hide the murder of Shraddha by removing any physical evidence, however, he had left the digital evidence that the police traced to reach the truth of the case.

    When Delhi Police initiated the investigation, Aaftab had told the police that Shraddha had left the house on May 22 (Shraddha was killed on May 18), after a fight. He said that she had only carried her phone with herself and had left her belongings in his flat. He claimed that she was unreachable and he had not come in contact with her since then, according to the police sources.

    However, the truth came to the fore when the police checked the phone call records of the couple and investigated their locations.

    The biggest breakthrough the police got was the bank statement of the couple’s account which showed a transaction of Rs 54,000 from Shraddha’s net banking account app to Aaftab’s account on May 26. The transaction exposed Aaftab’s lies in which he had earlier said that Shraddha was unreachable after May 22 and he did not come in contact with her, the sources said.

    Police personnel along with accused Aaftab Ameen Poonawala pose for the media, at Mehrauli Police Station, in New Delhi. (Photo | PTI)

    The location of the bank transfer that took place on May 26 also turned out to be the Mehrauli police station area.

    Besides this, on May 31 there was a chat with her friend from Shraddha’s Instagram account. When the police found out the location of Shraddha’s phone, it turned out to be in Delhi’s Mehrauli police station area.

    Aaftab could not answer the police question that if Shraddha had carried her phone along with herself, why was its location being traced to his house? It was at this moment that Aaftab revealed the truth.

    The Maharashtra Police sources said that when Shraddha’s family could not contact her due to her phone being switched off, they filed the missing complaint at the Manikpur police station. Following the complaint, Aaftab was summoned to the Manikpur police station for questioning. Earlier on Tuesday, the police sources told ANI that Aaftab confessed that he had made up his mind to kill Shraddha over a week before the murder (May 18).

    ALSO READ | Aaftab looked remorseless during prior questioning, say Maha cops

    “More than a week before the murder (May 18), I had made up my mind to kill Shraddha. Even on that day, Shraddha and I had a fight. I was determined to kill her when she suddenly became emotional and started crying. So I held back for later,” a Delhi Police source quoted Aaftab as saying in his confession.

    Aaftab said his partner had trust issues because of which she would often get angry, leading to frequent quarrels.

    “I often had to talk to someone over the phone. However, she would doubt my commitment to the relationship every time she caught me speaking over the phone. She used to get very angry,” Aaftab told Delhi Police.

    “I was scared as I knew that if I dumped the body somewhere, I might be caught. I browsed Google all night to search for ways to dispose of the body and not arouse any suspicion. I also searched the internet on what kind of chopper would I have to use to piece the body,” the Delhi Police source quoted Aaftab as saying.

    Aaftab also confessed to his fondness for watching web series and shows related to crime and it was from these shows that he borrowed ideas on preserving the chopped-off body parts and disposing of them later, police said, adding that he did it all by himself.

    “I am fond of watching web series and serials on crime and it was while watching these shows that I came up with ideas on preserving the body parts and keeping Shraddha alive in the eyes of her family and friends. It was to preempt any doubts or suspicions about her whereabouts that I kept posting on Shradhha’s Instagram profile after the murder. I did it all by myself,” the accused told Delhi Police.

    Sources said the accused first disposed of her liver and intestines after mincing them. Since he was a trained chef, he knew how to use the knife on her flesh.

    The liver and intestines were disposed of in the nearby forest area of Chattarpur and Mehrauli, sources said.

    As the investigators dig deeper into the Shraddha Walker murder case, Delhi Police have found blood stains in the kitchen of accused Aaftab Amin Poonawalla’s flat in Delhi’s Chhatarpur. The blood samples have been sent for examination to ascertain whose blood it is.

    According to top sources of Delhi Police, the DNA sample of Shraddha’s father has been collected. About 10-13 bones have been recovered from the forest. They have been sent to the forensic lab to find out whether the bones belonged to Shraddha or those of an animal.

    Delhi Police has been conducting CCTV mapping of the Chhatarpur area. Since the murder took place six months ago, the police are trying to gather the record of six months. The challenge before the police is most of the CCTV’s capture record of 15 days, in this situation Delhi Police have to scan vast footage.

    Sources said Police are also scanning the CCTV to find out whom Aaftab was meeting these days.

    “A lot of work has to be done. The weapon, Shraddha’s head and mobile phone are yet to be traced. The clothes worn by Aaftab and Shraddha on the day of the murder have not been found. These clothes were thrown in a garbage-moving vehicle,” sources said.

    Delhi Police recovered a bag of Shraddha in Aaftab’s house, which has her belongings. The bag has to be now identified with Shraddha’s family.

    Delhi Police had applied for the Narco test of the Aaftab on Saturday but till now no permission has been granted by the Court, sources said.

    ALSO READ | Delhi Police planning to conduct Aaftab’s psycho-assessment test

    Sources said the city police may write to the dating app, Bumble where the couple first met, seeking details of Aaftab’s profile and the women who visited him after the murder.

    Sources said the Delhi Police wants to ascertain if any of the women Aaftab dated on the app was the reason why he killed Shraddha.

    Meanwhile, Shraddha’s father on Tuesday demanded the death penalty for the accused while also suspecting ‘love jihad’ behind the incident.

    Speaking to ANI, Shraddha’s father, Vikas Walker said, “I suspect love jihad. We demand that Aaftab be sentenced to death. I have faith in the Delhi Police as the investigation is moving in the right direction. Shraddha was close to her uncle and didn’t talk to me much. I was never in touch with Aaftab. I lodged the first complaint in the case at Vasai (Mumbai).”

    “I had spoken to Shraddha last in 2021. I would ask her to tell me more about her live-in partner. But she didn’t say much. I did not know she had shifted to Delhi. Her friend told me she was in Delhi. I thought that she was in Bengaluru. Aaftab had a lot of time to remove all the evidence,” Shraddha’s father said. 

    NEW DELHI: Aaftab Amin Poonawala, who had allegedly strangled his live-in partner Shraddha Walker to death and chopped her body into 35 pieces, dumped it in the Chhattarpur area of south Delhi, had told police that before the murder there was a fight between the couple over the shifting of household items from Mumbai.

    Police investigation revealed that the couple had a fight on May 18 during which Aaftab killed Shraddha. Delhi Police sources said the May 18 quarrel was not the first time, Aaftab and Shraddha were fighting for three years.

    “On May 18, there was a fight between the two regarding bringing household items from Mumbai. They used to fight over who would bear the household expenses and bring items. Aaftab got very angry about this. The quarrel started around 8 pm on May 18 when Aaftab strangled Shraddha to death. He kept her body in the room overnight and went to buy a knife and refrigerator the next day,” sources told ANI.

    Aaftab was arrested on Saturday after Delhi police started probing into a missing complaint filed by Shraddha’s father Vikas Walker.

    ALSO READ | Shraddha murder case: This is how Delhi Police caught Aftab’s lie

    Aaftab had attempted to dupe the police of Delhi and Mumbai in the initial days of the investigation.

    Aaftab had tried to hide the murder of Shraddha by removing any physical evidence, however, he had left the digital evidence that the police traced to reach the truth of the case.

    When Delhi Police initiated the investigation, Aaftab had told the police that Shraddha had left the house on May 22 (Shraddha was killed on May 18), after a fight. He said that she had only carried her phone with herself and had left her belongings in his flat. He claimed that she was unreachable and he had not come in contact with her since then, according to the police sources.

    However, the truth came to the fore when the police checked the phone call records of the couple and investigated their locations.

    The biggest breakthrough the police got was the bank statement of the couple’s account which showed a transaction of Rs 54,000 from Shraddha’s net banking account app to Aaftab’s account on May 26. The transaction exposed Aaftab’s lies in which he had earlier said that Shraddha was unreachable after May 22 and he did not come in contact with her, the sources said.

    Police personnel along with accused Aaftab Ameen Poonawala pose for the media, at Mehrauli Police Station, in New Delhi. (Photo | PTI)

    The location of the bank transfer that took place on May 26 also turned out to be the Mehrauli police station area.

    Besides this, on May 31 there was a chat with her friend from Shraddha’s Instagram account. When the police found out the location of Shraddha’s phone, it turned out to be in Delhi’s Mehrauli police station area.

    Aaftab could not answer the police question that if Shraddha had carried her phone along with herself, why was its location being traced to his house? It was at this moment that Aaftab revealed the truth.

    The Maharashtra Police sources said that when Shraddha’s family could not contact her due to her phone being switched off, they filed the missing complaint at the Manikpur police station. Following the complaint, Aaftab was summoned to the Manikpur police station for questioning. Earlier on Tuesday, the police sources told ANI that Aaftab confessed that he had made up his mind to kill Shraddha over a week before the murder (May 18).

    ALSO READ | Aaftab looked remorseless during prior questioning, say Maha cops

    “More than a week before the murder (May 18), I had made up my mind to kill Shraddha. Even on that day, Shraddha and I had a fight. I was determined to kill her when she suddenly became emotional and started crying. So I held back for later,” a Delhi Police source quoted Aaftab as saying in his confession.

    Aaftab said his partner had trust issues because of which she would often get angry, leading to frequent quarrels.

    “I often had to talk to someone over the phone. However, she would doubt my commitment to the relationship every time she caught me speaking over the phone. She used to get very angry,” Aaftab told Delhi Police.

    “I was scared as I knew that if I dumped the body somewhere, I might be caught. I browsed Google all night to search for ways to dispose of the body and not arouse any suspicion. I also searched the internet on what kind of chopper would I have to use to piece the body,” the Delhi Police source quoted Aaftab as saying.

    Aaftab also confessed to his fondness for watching web series and shows related to crime and it was from these shows that he borrowed ideas on preserving the chopped-off body parts and disposing of them later, police said, adding that he did it all by himself.

    “I am fond of watching web series and serials on crime and it was while watching these shows that I came up with ideas on preserving the body parts and keeping Shraddha alive in the eyes of her family and friends. It was to preempt any doubts or suspicions about her whereabouts that I kept posting on Shradhha’s Instagram profile after the murder. I did it all by myself,” the accused told Delhi Police.

    Sources said the accused first disposed of her liver and intestines after mincing them. Since he was a trained chef, he knew how to use the knife on her flesh.

    The liver and intestines were disposed of in the nearby forest area of Chattarpur and Mehrauli, sources said.

    As the investigators dig deeper into the Shraddha Walker murder case, Delhi Police have found blood stains in the kitchen of accused Aaftab Amin Poonawalla’s flat in Delhi’s Chhatarpur. The blood samples have been sent for examination to ascertain whose blood it is.

    According to top sources of Delhi Police, the DNA sample of Shraddha’s father has been collected. About 10-13 bones have been recovered from the forest. They have been sent to the forensic lab to find out whether the bones belonged to Shraddha or those of an animal.

    Delhi Police has been conducting CCTV mapping of the Chhatarpur area. Since the murder took place six months ago, the police are trying to gather the record of six months. The challenge before the police is most of the CCTV’s capture record of 15 days, in this situation Delhi Police have to scan vast footage.

    Sources said Police are also scanning the CCTV to find out whom Aaftab was meeting these days.

    “A lot of work has to be done. The weapon, Shraddha’s head and mobile phone are yet to be traced. The clothes worn by Aaftab and Shraddha on the day of the murder have not been found. These clothes were thrown in a garbage-moving vehicle,” sources said.

    Delhi Police recovered a bag of Shraddha in Aaftab’s house, which has her belongings. The bag has to be now identified with Shraddha’s family.

    Delhi Police had applied for the Narco test of the Aaftab on Saturday but till now no permission has been granted by the Court, sources said.

    ALSO READ | Delhi Police planning to conduct Aaftab’s psycho-assessment test

    Sources said the city police may write to the dating app, Bumble where the couple first met, seeking details of Aaftab’s profile and the women who visited him after the murder.

    Sources said the Delhi Police wants to ascertain if any of the women Aaftab dated on the app was the reason why he killed Shraddha.

    Meanwhile, Shraddha’s father on Tuesday demanded the death penalty for the accused while also suspecting ‘love jihad’ behind the incident.

    Speaking to ANI, Shraddha’s father, Vikas Walker said, “I suspect love jihad. We demand that Aaftab be sentenced to death. I have faith in the Delhi Police as the investigation is moving in the right direction. Shraddha was close to her uncle and didn’t talk to me much. I was never in touch with Aaftab. I lodged the first complaint in the case at Vasai (Mumbai).”

    “I had spoken to Shraddha last in 2021. I would ask her to tell me more about her live-in partner. But she didn’t say much. I did not know she had shifted to Delhi. Her friend told me she was in Delhi. I thought that she was in Bengaluru. Aaftab had a lot of time to remove all the evidence,” Shraddha’s father said. 

  • Shraddha murder case: Delhi Police planning to conduct Aftab’s psycho-assessment test

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Delhi police is planning to conduct a psycho-assessment test on Aftab Poonawala, who had allegedly strangled his live-in partner Shraddha Walker to death and disposed of her body after chopping it into 35 pieces in South Delhi’s Chhatarpur area in May this year.

    Aftab was arrested on Saturday after Delhi police started probing into a missing complaint filed by the woman’s father.

    A senior Delhi police officer told ANI that since there are multiple discrepancies in Aftab’s statement, there is a possibility that police teams investigating this case will request his mental and psycho-assessment test.

    ALSO READ | Shraddha murder case: This is how Delhi Police caught Aftab’s lie

    “The test will let us know if Aftab is telling the truth. It will also help us understand his mental state and the nature of the brutal crime he has committed. We also want to know what his relationship with Shraddha was,” a senior police officer said.

    The police also said that if Aftab turns out to be mentally unfit, required measures will accordingly be taken. The test is expected in the coming days once the initial investigation is done.

    Delhi police has previously also conducted psycho-analysis tests in some cases.

    ALSO READ | More body parts recovered, head still missing; Aaftab visited doc to treat knife wound in May

    Last year, a psychoanalysis test was conducted on four students who had been apprehended in connection with the Israel Embassy blast case.

    Police had then said as per the test report, two of the accused were telling the ‘partial truth’ as far as their role in the blast was concerned.

    NEW DELHI: Delhi police is planning to conduct a psycho-assessment test on Aftab Poonawala, who had allegedly strangled his live-in partner Shraddha Walker to death and disposed of her body after chopping it into 35 pieces in South Delhi’s Chhatarpur area in May this year.

    Aftab was arrested on Saturday after Delhi police started probing into a missing complaint filed by the woman’s father.

    A senior Delhi police officer told ANI that since there are multiple discrepancies in Aftab’s statement, there is a possibility that police teams investigating this case will request his mental and psycho-assessment test.

    ALSO READ | Shraddha murder case: This is how Delhi Police caught Aftab’s lie

    “The test will let us know if Aftab is telling the truth. It will also help us understand his mental state and the nature of the brutal crime he has committed. We also want to know what his relationship with Shraddha was,” a senior police officer said.

    The police also said that if Aftab turns out to be mentally unfit, required measures will accordingly be taken. The test is expected in the coming days once the initial investigation is done.

    Delhi police has previously also conducted psycho-analysis tests in some cases.

    ALSO READ | More body parts recovered, head still missing; Aaftab visited doc to treat knife wound in May

    Last year, a psychoanalysis test was conducted on four students who had been apprehended in connection with the Israel Embassy blast case.

    Police had then said as per the test report, two of the accused were telling the ‘partial truth’ as far as their role in the blast was concerned.

  • Shraddha murder case: Aftab’s family flees to unknown location, now untraceable

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: The family of Aaftab Amin Poonawalla, an accused in the Shraddha Walker murder case, has fled to an unknown location and is now untraceable, Manikpur police (Palghar) said on Wednesday.

    According to the police, Aaftab’s family shifted to an unknown location without informing the police.

    “When the Manikpur police took Aaftab’s statement after calling him to Vasai, Aaftab’s family shifted to an unknown place. Aaftab’s family is not in contact with Manikpur police either,” the police told ANI.

    The victim in the case, Shraddha Walker’s family had registered a missing complaint about her in PS Manikpur. Later, Aftab was called for questioning twice.

    “Aaftab stated that he and Shraddha don’t stay together anymore,” the sources said.

    ALSO READ | Shraddha murder case: This is how Delhi Police caught Aaftab’s lie

    The police sources said that the family shifted without the knowledge of the police because they had an idea of their son’s activities.

    “That’s why they shifted in haste without informing the police. Aftab also came home at the time of shifting. Aaftab collected some of his belongings from the house. The family shifted only after the first summons issued by the Manikpur police,” the sources said.

    The police had called Aftab for the second time on November 3, when the case came to light. The police officers from Manikpur Police station went to Delhi on November 8 in relation to the case.

    On October 26, Manikpur police took Aaftab’s statement for the first time, however, it was an oral one in which he only talked about Shraddha’s leaving after a quarrel.

    While his written statement was taken on November 3, the police, during this summon had presented the paper documents, bank account details, and mobile phone location before the accused, to which he had no answer, according to the sources.

    Aaftab’s lie was exposed due to the online transactions that he did from Shraddha’s account to his own. He told the police that he knew Shraddha’s mobile phone password because of this he was able to transfer the amount of Rs 54,000.

    According to the police, Aaftab also used Shraddha’s ATM and credit card even after committing the crime.

    Meanwhile, the accused in the horrific Shraddha Walker murder case, Aaftab Amin Poonawalla who was arrested recently had attempted to dupe the police of Delhi and Maharashtra in the initial days of the investigation. 

    Aaftab had tried to hide the murder of Shraddha by removing any physical evidence, however, he had left the digital evidence that the police traced to reach the truth of the case.

    ALSO READ | More body parts recovered, head still missing; Aaftab visited doc to treat knife wound in May

    When Delhi Police initiated the investigation, Aaftab had told the police that Shraddha had left the house on May 22 (Shraddha was killed on May 18), after a fight. He said that she had only carried her phone with herself and had left her belongings in his flat. He claimed that she was unreachable and he had not come in contact with her since then, according to the police sources.

    However, the truth came to the fore when the police checked the phone call records of the couple and investigated their locations.

    The biggest breakthrough the police got was the bank statement of the couple’s account which showed a transaction of Rs 54,000 from Shraddha’s net banking account app to Aaftab’s account on May 26. The transaction exposed Aftab’s lies in which he had earlier said that Shraddha was unreachable after May 22 and he did not come in contact with her, the sources said.

    The location of the bank transfer that took place on May 26 also turned out to be the Mehrauli police station area.

    Besides this, on May 31 there was a chat with her friend from Shraddha’s Instagram account. When the police found out the location of Shraddha’s phone, it turned out to be in Delhi’s Mehrauli police station area.

    Aftab could not answer the police question that if Shraddha had carried her phone along with herself, why was its location being traced to his house? It was at this moment that Aaftab revealed the truth.

    As the investigation proceeds further, the police may conduct Aaftab’s NARCO analysis test, according to the sources.

    The Manikpur Police sources said that when Shraddha’s family could not contact her due to her phone being switched off, they filed the missing complaint at the Manikpur police station. Following the complaint, Aaftab was summoned to the Manikpur police station for questioning.

    “Aftab Poonawalla was called twice for questioning, once last month and the second time on November 3. When Aaftab was asked about Shraddha, he said that Shraddha had left the place where he lived. And they do not live together. Whenever Aaftab was called for questioning, he never showed restlessness or nervousness on his face,” the Manikpur police sources said.

    ALSO READ | Shraddha murder: Friends suspect ‘conspiracy’, claim she feared for her life

    The Manikpur Police had recorded a two-page statement the second time he was called in for questioning, however, he had only one thing to say.

    Earlier on Tuesday, the police sources told ANI that Aftab confessed that he had made up his mind to kill Shraddha over a week before the murder (May 18).

    Meanwhile, Shraddha’s father on Tuesday demanded the death penalty for the accused while also suspecting ‘love jihad’ behind the incident.

    Speaking to ANI, Shraddha’s father, Vikas Walker said, “I suspect love jihad. We demand that Aaftab be sentenced to death. I have faith in the Delhi Police as the investigation is moving in the right direction. Shraddha was close to her uncle and didn’t talk to me much. I was never in touch with Aaftab. I lodged the first complaint in the case at Vasai (Mumbai).”

    “I had spoken to Shraddha last in 2021. I would ask her to tell me more about her live-in partner. But she didn’t say much. I did not know she had shifted to Delhi. Her friend told me she was in Delhi. I thought that she was in Bengaluru. Aaftab had a lot of time to remove all the evidence,” Shraddha’s father said.

    MUMBAI: The family of Aaftab Amin Poonawalla, an accused in the Shraddha Walker murder case, has fled to an unknown location and is now untraceable, Manikpur police (Palghar) said on Wednesday.

    According to the police, Aaftab’s family shifted to an unknown location without informing the police.

    “When the Manikpur police took Aaftab’s statement after calling him to Vasai, Aaftab’s family shifted to an unknown place. Aaftab’s family is not in contact with Manikpur police either,” the police told ANI.

    The victim in the case, Shraddha Walker’s family had registered a missing complaint about her in PS Manikpur. Later, Aftab was called for questioning twice.

    “Aaftab stated that he and Shraddha don’t stay together anymore,” the sources said.

    ALSO READ | Shraddha murder case: This is how Delhi Police caught Aaftab’s lie

    The police sources said that the family shifted without the knowledge of the police because they had an idea of their son’s activities.

    “That’s why they shifted in haste without informing the police. Aftab also came home at the time of shifting. Aaftab collected some of his belongings from the house. The family shifted only after the first summons issued by the Manikpur police,” the sources said.

    The police had called Aftab for the second time on November 3, when the case came to light. The police officers from Manikpur Police station went to Delhi on November 8 in relation to the case.

    On October 26, Manikpur police took Aaftab’s statement for the first time, however, it was an oral one in which he only talked about Shraddha’s leaving after a quarrel.

    While his written statement was taken on November 3, the police, during this summon had presented the paper documents, bank account details, and mobile phone location before the accused, to which he had no answer, according to the sources.

    Aaftab’s lie was exposed due to the online transactions that he did from Shraddha’s account to his own. He told the police that he knew Shraddha’s mobile phone password because of this he was able to transfer the amount of Rs 54,000.

    According to the police, Aaftab also used Shraddha’s ATM and credit card even after committing the crime.

    Meanwhile, the accused in the horrific Shraddha Walker murder case, Aaftab Amin Poonawalla who was arrested recently had attempted to dupe the police of Delhi and Maharashtra in the initial days of the investigation. 

    Aaftab had tried to hide the murder of Shraddha by removing any physical evidence, however, he had left the digital evidence that the police traced to reach the truth of the case.

    ALSO READ | More body parts recovered, head still missing; Aaftab visited doc to treat knife wound in May

    When Delhi Police initiated the investigation, Aaftab had told the police that Shraddha had left the house on May 22 (Shraddha was killed on May 18), after a fight. He said that she had only carried her phone with herself and had left her belongings in his flat. He claimed that she was unreachable and he had not come in contact with her since then, according to the police sources.

    However, the truth came to the fore when the police checked the phone call records of the couple and investigated their locations.

    The biggest breakthrough the police got was the bank statement of the couple’s account which showed a transaction of Rs 54,000 from Shraddha’s net banking account app to Aaftab’s account on May 26. The transaction exposed Aftab’s lies in which he had earlier said that Shraddha was unreachable after May 22 and he did not come in contact with her, the sources said.

    The location of the bank transfer that took place on May 26 also turned out to be the Mehrauli police station area.

    Besides this, on May 31 there was a chat with her friend from Shraddha’s Instagram account. When the police found out the location of Shraddha’s phone, it turned out to be in Delhi’s Mehrauli police station area.

    Aftab could not answer the police question that if Shraddha had carried her phone along with herself, why was its location being traced to his house? It was at this moment that Aaftab revealed the truth.

    As the investigation proceeds further, the police may conduct Aaftab’s NARCO analysis test, according to the sources.

    The Manikpur Police sources said that when Shraddha’s family could not contact her due to her phone being switched off, they filed the missing complaint at the Manikpur police station. Following the complaint, Aaftab was summoned to the Manikpur police station for questioning.

    “Aftab Poonawalla was called twice for questioning, once last month and the second time on November 3. When Aaftab was asked about Shraddha, he said that Shraddha had left the place where he lived. And they do not live together. Whenever Aaftab was called for questioning, he never showed restlessness or nervousness on his face,” the Manikpur police sources said.

    ALSO READ | Shraddha murder: Friends suspect ‘conspiracy’, claim she feared for her life

    The Manikpur Police had recorded a two-page statement the second time he was called in for questioning, however, he had only one thing to say.

    Earlier on Tuesday, the police sources told ANI that Aftab confessed that he had made up his mind to kill Shraddha over a week before the murder (May 18).

    Meanwhile, Shraddha’s father on Tuesday demanded the death penalty for the accused while also suspecting ‘love jihad’ behind the incident.

    Speaking to ANI, Shraddha’s father, Vikas Walker said, “I suspect love jihad. We demand that Aaftab be sentenced to death. I have faith in the Delhi Police as the investigation is moving in the right direction. Shraddha was close to her uncle and didn’t talk to me much. I was never in touch with Aaftab. I lodged the first complaint in the case at Vasai (Mumbai).”

    “I had spoken to Shraddha last in 2021. I would ask her to tell me more about her live-in partner. But she didn’t say much. I did not know she had shifted to Delhi. Her friend told me she was in Delhi. I thought that she was in Bengaluru. Aaftab had a lot of time to remove all the evidence,” Shraddha’s father said.

  • Shraddha murder case: This is how Delhi Police caught Aftab’s lie

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Accused in the horrific Shraddha Walker murder case, Aftab Amin Poonawalla who was arrested recently had attempted to dupe the police of Delhi and Mumbai in the initial days of the investigation.

    Aftab had tried to hide the murder of Shraddha by removing any physical evidence, however, he had left the digital evidence that the police traced to reach the truth of the case.

    When Delhi Police initiated the investigation, Aftab had told the police that Shraddha had left the house on May 22 (Shraddha was killed on May 18), after a fight. He said that she had only carried her phone with herself and had left her belongings in his flat. He claimed that she was unreachable and he had not come in contact with her since then, according to the police sources.

    However, the truth came to the fore when the police checked the phone call records of the couple and investigated their locations.

    ALSO READ | More body parts recovered, head still missing; Aaftab visited doc to treat knife wound in May

    The biggest breakthrough the police got was the bank statement of the couple’s account which showed a transaction of Rs 54,000 from Shraddha’s net banking account app to Aftab’s account on May 26. The transaction exposed Aftab’s lies in which he had earlier said that Shraddha was unreachable after May 22 and he did not come in contact with her, the sources said.

    The location of the bank transfer that took place on May 26 also turned out to be the Mehrauli police station area.

    Besides this, on May 31 there was a chat with her friend from Shraddha’s Instagram account. When the police found out the location of Shraddha’s phone, it turned out to be in Delhi’s Mehrauli police station area.

    Aftab could not answer the police question that if Shraddha had carried her phone along with herself, why was its location being traced to his house? It was at this moment that Aftab revealed the truth.

    As the investigation proceeds further, the police may conduct Aftab’s NARCO analysis test, according to the sources.

    Aaftab Amin Poonawala, accused to have murdered his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar, being brought to the Mehrauli forest area for interrogation. (Photo |PTI)

    The Maharashtra Police sources said that when Shraddha’s family could not contact her due to her phone being switched off, they filed the missing complaint at the Manikpur police station. Following the complaint, Aftab was summoned to the Manikpur police station for questioning.

    “Aftab Poonawalla was called twice for questioning, once last month and the second time on November 3. When Aftab was asked about Shraddha, he said that Shraddha had left the place where he lived. And they do not live together. Whenever Aftab was called for questioning, he never showed restlessness or nervousness on his face,” the Maharashtra police sources said.

    The Maharashtra Police had recorded a two-page statement the second time he was called in for questioning, however, he had only one thing to say.

    Earlier on Tuesday, the police sources told ANI that Aftab confessed that he had made up his mind to kill Shraddha over a week before the murder (May 18).

    “More than a week before the murder (May 18), I had made up my mind to kill Shraddha. Even on that day, Shraddha and I had a fight. I was determined to kill her when she suddenly became emotional and started crying. So I held back for later,” a Delhi Police source quoted Aftab as saying in his confession.

    Aftab said his partner had trust issues because of which she would often get angry, leading to frequent quarrels.

    ALSO READ | Accused’s family shifted to Mumbai from Vasai 15 days ago

    “I often had to talk to someone over the phone. However, she would doubt my commitment to the relationship every time she caught me speaking over the phone. She used to get very angry,” Aftab told Delhi Police.

    Police said on further investigation, it was learnt that the couple had a fight on May 18 during which Aftab killed Shraddha.

    “I was scared as I knew that if I dumped the body somewhere, I might be caught. I browsed Google all night to search for ways to dispose of the body and not arouse any suspicion. I also searched the internet on what kind of chopper would I have to use to piece the body,” the Delhi Police source quoted Aftab as saying.

    Aftab also confessed to his fondness for watching web series and shows related to crime and it was from these shows that he borrowed ideas on preserving the chopped-off body parts and disposing of them later, police said, adding that he did it all by himself.”I am fond of watching web series and serials on crime and it was while watching these shows that I came up with ideas on preserving the body parts and keeping Shraddha alive in the eyes of her family and friends. It was to preempt any doubts or suspicions about her whereabouts that I kept posting on Shradhha’s Instagram profile after the murder. I did it all by myself,” the accused told Delhi Police.

    According to police sources, the accused first disposed of her liver and intestines after mincing them. Since he was a trained chef, he knew how to use the knife on her flesh, police added. The liver and intestines were disposed of in the nearby forest area of Chattarpur and Mehrauli, sources said.

    Meanwhile, earlier on Tuesday, sources said the city police may write to the dating app, Bumble where the couple first met, seeking details of Aftab’s profile and the women who visited him after the murder.

    Sources said the Delhi Police wants to ascertain if any of the women Aftab dated on the app was the reason why he killed Shraddha.

    Meanwhile, Shraddha’s father on Tuesday demanded the death penalty for the accused while also suspecting ‘love jihad’ behind the incident.

    Speaking to ANI, Shraddha’s father, Vikas Walker said, “I suspect love jihad. We demand that Aftab be sentenced to death. I have faith in the Delhi Police as the investigation is moving in the right direction. Shraddha was close to her uncle and didn’t talk to me much. I was never in touch with Aftab. I lodged the first complaint in the case at Vasai (Mumbai).”

    “I had spoken to Shraddha last in 2021. I would ask her to tell me more about her live-in partner. But she didn’t say much. I did not know she had shifted to Delhi. Her friend told me she was in Delhi. I thought that she was in Bengaluru. Aftab had a lot of time to remove all the evidence,” Shraddha’s father said.

    NEW DELHI: Accused in the horrific Shraddha Walker murder case, Aftab Amin Poonawalla who was arrested recently had attempted to dupe the police of Delhi and Mumbai in the initial days of the investigation.

    Aftab had tried to hide the murder of Shraddha by removing any physical evidence, however, he had left the digital evidence that the police traced to reach the truth of the case.

    When Delhi Police initiated the investigation, Aftab had told the police that Shraddha had left the house on May 22 (Shraddha was killed on May 18), after a fight. He said that she had only carried her phone with herself and had left her belongings in his flat. He claimed that she was unreachable and he had not come in contact with her since then, according to the police sources.

    However, the truth came to the fore when the police checked the phone call records of the couple and investigated their locations.

    ALSO READ | More body parts recovered, head still missing; Aaftab visited doc to treat knife wound in May

    The biggest breakthrough the police got was the bank statement of the couple’s account which showed a transaction of Rs 54,000 from Shraddha’s net banking account app to Aftab’s account on May 26. The transaction exposed Aftab’s lies in which he had earlier said that Shraddha was unreachable after May 22 and he did not come in contact with her, the sources said.

    The location of the bank transfer that took place on May 26 also turned out to be the Mehrauli police station area.

    Besides this, on May 31 there was a chat with her friend from Shraddha’s Instagram account. When the police found out the location of Shraddha’s phone, it turned out to be in Delhi’s Mehrauli police station area.

    Aftab could not answer the police question that if Shraddha had carried her phone along with herself, why was its location being traced to his house? It was at this moment that Aftab revealed the truth.

    As the investigation proceeds further, the police may conduct Aftab’s NARCO analysis test, according to the sources.

    Aaftab Amin Poonawala, accused to have murdered his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar, being brought to the Mehrauli forest area for interrogation. (Photo |PTI)

    The Maharashtra Police sources said that when Shraddha’s family could not contact her due to her phone being switched off, they filed the missing complaint at the Manikpur police station. Following the complaint, Aftab was summoned to the Manikpur police station for questioning.

    “Aftab Poonawalla was called twice for questioning, once last month and the second time on November 3. When Aftab was asked about Shraddha, he said that Shraddha had left the place where he lived. And they do not live together. Whenever Aftab was called for questioning, he never showed restlessness or nervousness on his face,” the Maharashtra police sources said.

    The Maharashtra Police had recorded a two-page statement the second time he was called in for questioning, however, he had only one thing to say.

    Earlier on Tuesday, the police sources told ANI that Aftab confessed that he had made up his mind to kill Shraddha over a week before the murder (May 18).

    “More than a week before the murder (May 18), I had made up my mind to kill Shraddha. Even on that day, Shraddha and I had a fight. I was determined to kill her when she suddenly became emotional and started crying. So I held back for later,” a Delhi Police source quoted Aftab as saying in his confession.

    Aftab said his partner had trust issues because of which she would often get angry, leading to frequent quarrels.

    ALSO READ | Accused’s family shifted to Mumbai from Vasai 15 days ago

    “I often had to talk to someone over the phone. However, she would doubt my commitment to the relationship every time she caught me speaking over the phone. She used to get very angry,” Aftab told Delhi Police.

    Police said on further investigation, it was learnt that the couple had a fight on May 18 during which Aftab killed Shraddha.

    “I was scared as I knew that if I dumped the body somewhere, I might be caught. I browsed Google all night to search for ways to dispose of the body and not arouse any suspicion. I also searched the internet on what kind of chopper would I have to use to piece the body,” the Delhi Police source quoted Aftab as saying.

    Aftab also confessed to his fondness for watching web series and shows related to crime and it was from these shows that he borrowed ideas on preserving the chopped-off body parts and disposing of them later, police said, adding that he did it all by himself.”I am fond of watching web series and serials on crime and it was while watching these shows that I came up with ideas on preserving the body parts and keeping Shraddha alive in the eyes of her family and friends. It was to preempt any doubts or suspicions about her whereabouts that I kept posting on Shradhha’s Instagram profile after the murder. I did it all by myself,” the accused told Delhi Police.

    According to police sources, the accused first disposed of her liver and intestines after mincing them. Since he was a trained chef, he knew how to use the knife on her flesh, police added. The liver and intestines were disposed of in the nearby forest area of Chattarpur and Mehrauli, sources said.

    Meanwhile, earlier on Tuesday, sources said the city police may write to the dating app, Bumble where the couple first met, seeking details of Aftab’s profile and the women who visited him after the murder.

    Sources said the Delhi Police wants to ascertain if any of the women Aftab dated on the app was the reason why he killed Shraddha.

    Meanwhile, Shraddha’s father on Tuesday demanded the death penalty for the accused while also suspecting ‘love jihad’ behind the incident.

    Speaking to ANI, Shraddha’s father, Vikas Walker said, “I suspect love jihad. We demand that Aftab be sentenced to death. I have faith in the Delhi Police as the investigation is moving in the right direction. Shraddha was close to her uncle and didn’t talk to me much. I was never in touch with Aftab. I lodged the first complaint in the case at Vasai (Mumbai).”

    “I had spoken to Shraddha last in 2021. I would ask her to tell me more about her live-in partner. But she didn’t say much. I did not know she had shifted to Delhi. Her friend told me she was in Delhi. I thought that she was in Bengaluru. Aftab had a lot of time to remove all the evidence,” Shraddha’s father said.