NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has allowed the cancellation of proceedings the Shraddha Walkar murder case scheduled for July 20 after accused Aaftab Amin Poonawala informed the court that he would be appearing for his final MA Sociology examination inside Tihar Jail on the same day.Additional Sessions Judge Hargurvarinder Singh Jaggi allowed Poonawala’s plea seeking exemption from physical appearance, noting that his examinations conducted by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) are being held at the examination centre in Central Jail No. 3, where he is lodged as an undertrial prisoner.In an order dated July 8, the court said, “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, 2026 from 02:00P. M. till 05:00P. M. at IGNOU Exam Centre located at Central Jail No. 03, Tihar. (date sheet of examination scheduled from July 11, 2026 till July 20, 2026).”Poonawala had sought exemption from appearing before the court on July 20, stating that his final examination would take place between 2 pm and 5 pm.Accepting the request, the court cancelled the hearing fixed for that day and directed that the recording of prosecution evidence would begin on July 21 at 2 pm. The remaining dates previously scheduled by the court will continue as planned.The court had earlier scheduled the matter for day-to-day recording of prosecution evidence from July 20 to July 25. Dates for proceedings in August are yet to be decided. According to the prosecution, eight witnesses are yet to be examined.The chief examination of 13 prosecution witnesses has been partly recorded, while the testimony of 12 witnesses was deferred.Shraddha Walkar, a 27-year-old call centre employee, was allegedly murdered by her live-in partner Poonawala in May 2022.The prosecution has alleged that Poonawala strangled Walkar, dismembered her body, stored the remains in a refrigerator and disposed of them over several days in different parts of the national capital.Poonawala, who had rented a flat in Mehrauli where the alleged murder took place, was arrested on November 12, 2022.Investigators have alleged that he dumped Walkar’s body parts in a forested area in Delhi following the killing.The trial has been pending since 2023. Walkar’s father, Vikas Walkar, who had been pursuing the case after his daughter’s death, passed away in 2025.(With PTI inputs)
