'Where are Aftab's parents?' Shraddha Walkar's father asks

Vikas Walkar, father of Shraddha Walker killed by her live-in partner Aftab Amin Poonawala, on Monday said that loopholes in the investigation have delayed the case proceedings.

"He ( Aftab Poonawalla) should be given the death penalty. He is guilty. He committed this crime with full planning. There are loopholes in the investigation and proceedings due to which the case is delayed. I have asked my lawyer to appeal for fast-track proceedings in the case," Vikas Walkar told ANI.

He then wondered why the family of the accused have not been "highlighted".

"His (Aftab) parents are yet not highlighted. I think they have been hidden somewhere. Where are they? I appeal to highlight them...We want to perform her (Shraddha) last rituals & I have appealed for her body parts," he added.

Earlier today, a court restrained a television news channel from utilising in any form any material related to the FIR registered in the Shraddha Walkar murder case.

The link court of Additional Sessions Judge Rakesh Kumar Singh was hearing an application moved by the Delhi Police regarding issuing orders to "Aaj Tak" and other media channels not to telecast any material regarding the FIR in the case.

"However, since if an immediate order is not passed, the application itself will be rendered infructuous, this court is of the view that till the next date, the Aaj Tak news channel shall not utilise in any form any material related to the FIR. The matter be taken up on April 17 for a detailed hearing," PTI quoted the judge as saying.

When Article 21 of the Constitution protects the life and liberty of a person, it also contemplates the protection of the psychological state of mind of such a person. Any dissemination of sensitive information pertaining to a murder case will definitely result in psychological repercussions for the accused and also for the victim's family, the court observed.

The Delhi Police filed a 6,629-page chargesheet in the case on January 24

According to the chargesheet filed in the case, accused Aaftab Amin Poonawala allegedly strangled his live-in partner, Walkar, on May 18 last year and sawed her body into several pieces, which he kept in a refrigerator for almost three weeks at his residence in south Delhi's Mehrauli.

With inputs from agencies