Shraddha Walkar's friend questions exam gap to Aftab Poonawala, who cut her into 35 pieces; revisiting the horrifying case
In May 2022, Poonawala murdered Shraddha at their shared residence in the Mehrauli area of South Delhi.
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Days after a Delhi court adjourned the hearing in the 2022 Shraddha Walkar murder case, after the accused Aaftab Amin Poonawala requested time to appear for his IGNOU examination, Shraddha's friend Rajat Shukla, on Monday, July 13, raised concerns over the prolonged delay in the trial, stating that justice was being denied to the victim's family.
"We must remember that Aftab is the same person who cut her body into 35 pieces so brutally. He still hasn't been hanged. Four years have passed since this happened. It's a great pity that Saket Court or any other court should show him any mercy. If mercy is to be shown, then you should show some mercy to the few remaining members of Shraddha's family," Shukla said.
Referring to the recent adjournment granted after Poonawala informed the court that he would be appearing for his Master of Arts (Sociology) examination at an IGNOU examination centre inside Tihar Jail, Shukla questioned the relief extended to the accused. "In this ongoing case involving Aftab, they're showing him mercy so he doesn't face any mental pressure during his exams. Why aren't people paying attention to his mentality? Does the judiciary have no responsibility left?" he remarked.
Shukla further argued that delays in high-profile criminal trials could embolden offenders. "After Aftab cut her into 35 pieces, many others cut people into many more pieces. Someone boiled someone in a cooker, someone burned and put someone in a drum," he said, adding that prolonged trials send an undesirable message regarding accountability for grave offences.
It is to be noted that on July 8, a Delhi Court had cancelled a scheduled trial hearing in the Shraddha Walkar murder case on July 20 after the accused, Aaftab Amin Poonawala, sought an exemption from physical production to appear for his university examinations inside the prison. Additional Sessions Judge Hargurvarinder Singh Jaggi of the Saket District Courts passed the order on July 8, 2026, upon an application moved by Poonawala. Poonawala informed the court that he is scheduled to write his final M.A. Sociology examination, conducted by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), on July 20, 2026. According to the application, the examination is slated to take place between 2:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M. at the IGNOU Exam Centre situated within Central Jail No. 03, Tihar, where he is currently lodged.
Background of the case:
In May 2022, Poonawala murdered Shraddha at their shared residence in the Mehrauli area of South Delhi. According to the reports, he strangled her before dismembering her body into multiple pieces. He then stored the body parts in a refrigerator and disposed of them in different parts of the city over several weeks, allegedly scattering some remains in a forested area in Mehrauli.
The case came to light in November 2022, several months after the murder, when Shraddha's father filed a missing person complaint after being unable to reach her. During the investigation, police discovered the gruesome details of the crime, leading to Poonawala's arrest. The case triggered massive public outrage and extensive media coverage across the country, sparking wider conversations about relationship abuse, the safety of women, and the need for background checks in relationships.
Poonawala was charged with murder and destruction of evidence under the Indian Penal Code. The trial has been ongoing in a Delhi court, with the prosecution presenting forensic evidence, witness testimonies, and technical data to establish the sequence of events.
The trial notably has faced multiple delays over time. The case remains under trial, with the family and friends of Shraddha continuing to advocate for a swift judicial process and appropriate punishment for the accused.
In a conversation with ANI, Shukla called on the judiciary to speed up the trial proceedings and objected to any leniency being shown toward Poonawala, who stands accused of murdering his live-in partner, Shraddha Walkar, and dismembering her body in 2022.
"We must remember that Aftab is the same person who cut her body into 35 pieces so brutally. He still hasn't been hanged. Four years have passed since this happened. It's a great pity that Saket Court or any other court should show him any mercy. If mercy is to be shown, then you should show some mercy to the few remaining members of Shraddha's family," Shukla said.
He further claimed that Shraddha's last rites are yet to be performed as her mortal remains have not been returned. "Shraddha hasn't been cremated yet... Her body hasn't been returned yet, which is why her last rites haven't been performed," he alleged.
Aaftab Poonawala cut Shraddha into 35 pieces
— Eminent Intellectual (@total_woke_) July 12, 2026
With her pieces in refrigerator, he contacted 30 Hindu girls to date
When caught he slept like a baby
Now he is doing is MA with thesis on Hindutva threat to secularism
Court cancelled his hearing so he can take the exam pic.twitter.com/orW6ozQIg0
Shukla also criticised the pace of the criminal trial, expressing concern that despite the seriousness of the allegations, the proceedings had not concluded even after four years. "There are hundreds, lakhs, and crores of cases pending in the court... But in such a serious case like Shraddha's, four years have passed, and the trial hasn't even been conducted," he said.
Referring to the recent adjournment granted after Poonawala informed the court that he would be appearing for his Master of Arts (Sociology) examination at an IGNOU examination centre inside Tihar Jail, Shukla questioned the relief extended to the accused. "In this ongoing case involving Aftab, they're showing him mercy so he doesn't face any mental pressure during his exams. Why aren't people paying attention to his mentality? Does the judiciary have no responsibility left?" he remarked.
Shukla further argued that delays in high-profile criminal trials could embolden offenders. "After Aftab cut her into 35 pieces, many others cut people into many more pieces. Someone boiled someone in a cooker, someone burned and put someone in a drum," he said, adding that prolonged trials send an undesirable message regarding accountability for grave offences.
It is to be noted that on July 8, a Delhi Court had cancelled a scheduled trial hearing in the Shraddha Walkar murder case on July 20 after the accused, Aaftab Amin Poonawala, sought an exemption from physical production to appear for his university examinations inside the prison. Additional Sessions Judge Hargurvarinder Singh Jaggi of the Saket District Courts passed the order on July 8, 2026, upon an application moved by Poonawala. Poonawala informed the court that he is scheduled to write his final M.A. Sociology examination, conducted by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), on July 20, 2026. According to the application, the examination is slated to take place between 2:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M. at the IGNOU Exam Centre situated within Central Jail No. 03, Tihar, where he is currently lodged.
Background of the case:
The Shraddha Walkar murder case is one of the most widely discussed criminal cases in recent Indian history, involving the killing of a young woman by her live-in partner in Delhi. Shraddha Walkar, a 26-year-old woman originally from Maharashtra, was in a live-in relationship with Aaftab Amin Poonawala in Delhi. The couple had reportedly met on a dating app and had been together for a few years, despite facing opposition from their families. Their relationship was known to be troubled, marked by frequent conflicts.
In May 2022, Poonawala murdered Shraddha at their shared residence in the Mehrauli area of South Delhi. According to the reports, he strangled her before dismembering her body into multiple pieces. He then stored the body parts in a refrigerator and disposed of them in different parts of the city over several weeks, allegedly scattering some remains in a forested area in Mehrauli.
The case came to light in November 2022, several months after the murder, when Shraddha's father filed a missing person complaint after being unable to reach her. During the investigation, police discovered the gruesome details of the crime, leading to Poonawala's arrest. The case triggered massive public outrage and extensive media coverage across the country, sparking wider conversations about relationship abuse, the safety of women, and the need for background checks in relationships.
Poonawala was charged with murder and destruction of evidence under the Indian Penal Code. The trial has been ongoing in a Delhi court, with the prosecution presenting forensic evidence, witness testimonies, and technical data to establish the sequence of events.
The trial notably has faced multiple delays over time. The case remains under trial, with the family and friends of Shraddha continuing to advocate for a swift judicial process and appropriate punishment for the accused.