Delhi High Court to hear today Shraddha Walkar's brother's plea for time-bound trial

Shraddha Walkar's brother has moved the Delhi High Court seeking a time-bound end to Aaftab Amin Poonawala's trial. The plea comes amid renewed scrutiny of delays after a July 20 hearing was cancelled for the accused's examination.Aaftab Amin Poonawala murdered his live-in partner Shraddha Walker in May 2022, dismembered her body into dozens of pieces and disposed of them at multiple locations.Nearly four years after the sensational murder of 27-year-old Shraddha Walkar, her brother has approached the Delhi High Court seeking a time-bound completion of the trial against accused Aaftab Amin Poonawala, alleging delays in the proceedings and urging judicial intervention to ensure the case reaches its conclusion without further hindrance.The plea is scheduled to come up for hearing before a bench of Justice Madhu Jain on Friday.According to the petition, Walkar’s brother has sought directions for the expeditious disposal of the trial, arguing that the prolonged proceedings have caused continued distress to the victim’s family. The move comes amid renewed debate over the pace of the trial after a recent court order cancelled a scheduled hearing on July 20.JULY 20 PROCEEDINGS CANCELLED FOR ACCUSED'S EXAMINATIONA Delhi trial court cancelled proceedings in the case on July 20 when Poonawala informed the court that he was scheduled to appear for his final Master’s degree Sociology examination inside Tihar Jail, where he is currently lodged. Additional Sessions Judge Hargurvarinder Singh Jaggi noted that the examinations, conducted by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), were being held between July 11 and July 20 at the examination centre within Tihar Central Jail.Poonawala sought exemption from physical production before the court on July 20, stating that his final examination was scheduled from 2 pm to 5 pm on the same day. Accepting the request, the court cancelled the hearing. The development drew attention because the matter had already been fixed for day-to-day recording of prosecution evidence from July 20 to July 25 as part of efforts to accelerate the trial.QUESTIONS RAISED OVER DELAYSThe cancellation of the hearing triggered questions over whether the accused had repeatedly secured adjournments on various grounds, thereby slowing proceedings in one of Delhi’s most closely watched criminal cases.However, a review of court records and orders passed over the past several years paints a more nuanced picture.Far from routinely permitting delays, the trial court has repeatedly emphasised the need for a speedy trial and has taken several steps to prevent interruptions in the recording of evidence.The case has been heard by multiple judges since the trial commenced in 2023. Orders passed during this period show consistent efforts by the court to ensure that witness testimonies are recorded without unnecessary breaks.The court had also rejected a defence request seeking only two hearing dates per month, observing that the prosecution had cited more than 212 witnesses and that several witnesses were travelling from outside Delhi to testify.TRIAL COURT'S PUSH FOR SPEEDY PROCEEDINGSIn a significant order passed on May 29, Judge Jaggi directed that witness testimonies be recorded on a day-to-day basis, noting that the progress of the trial had become “tardy”.The court also put the accused on notice after his counsel indicated difficulties in attending daily hearings, directing him to ensure appropriate legal representation for uninterrupted proceedings.Earlier orders reflect similar concerns. In January 2025, the court observed that the engagement of the defence counsel in other matters could not be a ground to stall proceedings in a fast-track court. In October 2025, all parties were asked to provide clear schedules to facilitate continuous hearings.A block calendar prepared in December 2025 earmarked multiple hearing dates between January and April 2026, with the court warning that adjournments would not be readily entertained. In May 2026, it further ordered that the matter be taken up on a day-to-day basis from July 20 onward.SHRADDHA WALKAR WAS MURDERED IN 2022The prosecution alleges that Walkar was murdered by her live-in partner, Poonawala, in their rented apartment in Delhi’s Mehrauli in May 2022 following a dispute. Investigators claim that he strangled her, dismembered the body, stored the remains in a refrigerator and disposed of them over several days in different parts of Delhi, including forested areas.Poonawala was arrested in November 2022 and has remained in custody since then. Walkar’s father, Vikas Walkar, who had actively pursued the case after his daughter’s death, passed away in 2025.With the High Court now set to hear the plea seeking a time-bound conclusion of the trial, the focus is once again on ensuring a swift resolution in one of the country’s most high-profile murder cases.- EndsPublished By: Nitish SinghPublished On: Jul 31, 2026 01:44 IST