31 July,2026 02:29 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Shraddha Walkar, who was in a live-in relationship with Aaftab Amin Poonawala, was allegedly strangled by him on May 18, 2022. FILE PIC
The Delhi High Court (HC) on Friday refused to set a fixed timeline for the conclusion of the trial in the Shraddha Walkar murder case against accused Aaftab Amin Poonawala, observing that the proceedings were already being conducted on a day-to-day basis.
Justice Madhu Jain, while hearing a petition filed by Walkar's brother seeking time-bound completion of the trial, said that the court was making all efforts to conclude the proceedings at the earliest.
"It is clear that the trial court is making every endeavour to conclude the trial as soon as possible. No further directions are required as the trial is going on a day to day basis," the court said.
Walkar, who was in a live-in relationship with Poonawala, was allegedly strangled by him on May 18, 2022. According to the charge sheet filed by the Delhi Police, Poonawala allegedly dismembered her body, stored the remains in a refrigerator and disposed of them at various locations across Delhi over several days.
The Delhi Police filed a 6,629-page charge sheet in the case, following which the trial commenced.
Walkar's brother, Shreejay, had approached the high court seeking directions to the trial court to complete the sessions trial pending before the Additional Sessions Judge (FTC), Saket Courts, within a fixed timeframe.
The petition argued that the prolonged pendency of the trial had delayed justice for the family and prevented them from performing Walkar's last rites, as the recovered remains continue to remain part of the case property.
The plea stated that the delay had violated the constitutional guarantee of speedy trial under Article 21 and caused continuing hardship to the victim's family. It also contended that the right to dignity under Article 21 extends to the dignified treatment and disposal of the dead.
During the hearing, the counsel appearing for the Delhi Police informed the court that the trial was already proceeding on a day-to-day basis, except on Saturdays and Sundays. Senior advocate Amit Prasad said that out of more than 200 prosecution witnesses, testimonies of 157 witnesses had already been completed.
The petitioner had earlier claimed that, despite substantial progress in recording evidence, the proceedings had remained pending for an extended period without sufficient justification.
The Delhi Police also informed the court that certain overseas witnesses may need to be examined during the trial.
Following a request from the senior counsel, the high court asked the Ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs to facilitate the expeditious examination of such witnesses whenever required by the trial court.
The court subsequently closed the proceedings on the petition.
(With PTI and ANI inputs)
