Delhi Court frames charges of murder, disappearance of evidence against Aftab Poonawala

A Delhi court framed charges of murder and disappearance of evidence against Aftab Amin Poonawala, accused of strangling his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar and chopping her body into pieces.

Additional Sessions Judge Manisha Khurana Kakkar said prima facie a case for offences under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) was made out against the accused.

Poonawala, however, denied the charges and demanded a trial. The matter has been posted for further proceedings on June 1.

The court had on April 15 reserved the order for Saturday after hearing arguments on framing of charges from the prosecution lawyers as well as those of the accused.

The court also adjourned for May 9 the hearing on an application by Walkar's father, urging the judge that the woman's remains be handed over to the family for the last rites as required by tradition and culture.

Delhi Police is scheduled to file its reply to the application on the next date of hearing. The probe agency had on April 15 sought time to file its reply to the plea of Walkar's father.

Poonawala has been booked by Delhi Police for offences under Indian Penal Code sections 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence).

Delhi Police filed a 6,629-page charge sheet in the case on January 24.

Walkar was allegedly strangled by Poonawala on May 18 last year, following which he sawed her body into pieces and kept them in a fridge for almost three weeks at his residence in South Delhi's Mehrauli. He scattered the body parts at different places in the national capital to avoid being caught.