Shraddha Walkar Case: Hearing Deferred for Accused's Exam

The long-drawn legal battle in the infamous Shraddha Walkar murder case hit another procedural bump. The Saket District Court cancelled the long-awaited July 20 hearing, which was supposed to mark the beginning of a strict, day-to-day evidentiary phase aimed at wrapping up the trial.

The prime accused, Aaftab Amin Poonawala, successfully moved an application seeking exemption from physical production before the bench. Poonawala informed the court that his final M.A. Sociology examination under the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) was scheduled on the exact same date from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

"Accused/UTP Aaftab Amin Poonawala stated in his application that he is scheduled to appear for his M.A. Sociology last exam on July 20... at IGNOU Exam Centre located at Central Jail No. 03, Tihar," noted Additional Sessions Judge Hargurvarinder Singh Jaggi in the official order.

Acknowledging the academic datesheet spanning from July 11 to July 20, the court accepted the undertaking and shifted the active recording of prosecution evidence to July 21 at 2:00 PM.

A Fast-Track Trial Bogged Down by Delays

The gruesome Mehrauli murder case, which shook the conscience of the nation in November 2022, involves allegations that Aaftab strangled his 27-year-old live-in partner Shraddha Walkar. The prosecution states that the accused subsequently dismembered her body into 35 pieces, stored them in a refrigerator, and systematically disposed of the remains across various forested patches in Delhi over several weeks.

Charges under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 302 (Murder) and 201 (Disappearance of Evidence) were formally framed against Poonawala back in May 2023. Yet, the complex mechanics of the Indian legal system have dragged the trial out for over three years.

Trial Parameter	Current Status & Backlog
Total Remaining Witnesses	8 witnesses still await primary examination.
Partial Witness Progress	13 prosecution witnesses have had their chief examinations partly recorded.
Deferred Testimonies	Testimonies of 12 critical witnesses have faced previous deferments.
Current Objective	Day-to-day hearings scheduled to clear the evidentiary backlog.

The bench had previously organized consecutive daily sittings to eliminate these exact witness backlogs, but the educational exemption has briefly paused the momentum.

The Legal and Emotional Cost of Adjournments

While the Indian legal framework ensures that undertrial prisoners maintain basic fundamental rights—including access to education—the structural delays have exacted a deep emotional toll on the victim's family.

Shraddha's father, Vikas Walkar, who fiercely campaigned for a fast-track verdict and absolute justice for his daughter, passed away in 2025 due to a sudden cardiac arrest. He left the world without witnessing the final judgment against the man who allegedly took his daughter's life.

With key family members passing away and the trial moving at a snail's pace, the victim’s legal counsel is reportedly preparing to approach the Delhi High Court to appeal against the persistent scheduling gridlocks. The legal team argues that the right to a speedy trial applies equally to the victims of heinous crimes, and repetitive extensions disrupt the judicial narrative.

The remaining scheduled sittings will continue uninterrupted. The prosecution is expected to present high-priority forensic and technical experts, including DNA examiners and telecom nodal officers, to piece together the digital and physical trail that anchors the case.