New Delhi: A Delhi court has cancelled the day-to-day proceedings in the Shraddha Walkar murder case scheduled for July 20 after the accused, Aaftab Amin Poonawala, informed it that he would be appearing for his final MA Sociology examination at Tihar Jail that afternoon.Additional Sessions Judge Hargurvarinder Singh Jaggi noted that Poonawala’s examinations, conducted by Indira Gandhi National Open University, are scheduled from July 11 to July 20 at the examination centre inside Central Jail No. 3, Tihar, where he is lodged as an undertrial prisoner.In an order dated July 8, the court said, “Accused Poonawala stated in his application that he is scheduled to appear for his last exam on July 20 from 2 P.M. till 5 P.M. ”Poonawala had sought an exemption from physical appearance before the court on July 20, citing the timing of his final examination. Accepting the plea, the court cancelled the day-to-day proceedings fixed for the day and directed that prosecution evidence be recorded from July 21 onwards at 2 pm. The remaining dates fixed earlier will continue.In May, the court had scheduled day-to-day recording of prosecution evidence from July 20 to July 25. As per the prosecution, eight witnesses are yet to be examined, the chief examination of 13 prosecution witnesses has been partly recorded, and the testimony of 12 witnesses was deferred.Walkar, a 27-year-old call centre employee, was allegedly murdered by her live-in partner, Poonawala, in May 2022, and the case has been pending since 2023.
