Aftab Poonawala (Shraddha Murder Case) Age, Caste, Religion, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Aftab Poonawala

• Aftab Poonawala, an Indian graphic designer and food blogger, stands accused of the murder of Shraddha Walker, a 27-year-old woman. It is alleged that Poonawala not only committed the act of murder, but also dismembered her body before disposing of it in the forest region of Chhatarpur in Delhi.

• allegedly crossed paths in Mumbai in 2018 after connecting on the online dating platform ‘Bumble’.

• In March 2022, Aftab and Shraddha made the decision to relocate to Delhi. They rented a house in the Chhatarpur area of Mehrauli, after facing disapproval from their parents regarding their relationship. According to certain media reports, Aftab moved to Delhi with hopes of finding enhanced opportunities in the IT sector. On the other hand, Shraddha chose to leave her home and join Aftab after her parents rejected their relationship.

• During an interview, Rajat Shukla, a friend of Shraddha, revealed that she was involved in a violent relationship with Aftab. Rajat shared that Shraddha had confided in her friends about Aftab’s aggressive behavior and expressed her desire to end the relationship. However, she found herself unable to do so. Rajat Shukla expressed deep shock upon hearing the news of Shraddha’s murder, stating that it deeply affected her. She recalled that Shraddha had informed them about her relationship back in 2019, which had begun in 2018. Initially, they seemed happy while living together, but things took a dark turn when Shraddha started opening up about Aftab’s physical abuse towards her. Despite her desperate wish to leave him, she felt trapped and powerless. This information was reported by The Times of India.

• According to reports, the couple had been experiencing frequent arguments and their relationship had turned sour. In an attempt to start anew, they decided to take a trip to the hills during March and April. However, their arguments resumed once again. On 18 May 2022, Aftab, driven by anger and pressure from Shraddha to get married, tragically strangled her to death. He then proceeded to dismember her body into 35 pieces using a saw and stored it in a 300-litre refrigerator, which he had purchased from a local market. Aftab reportedly disposed of the body parts in various locations across the city. The arguments between Aftab and Shraddha often revolved around household items and daily expenses. Aftab chose to store Shraddha’s dismembered body in the refrigerator.

• It has been reported that he kept ice creams and various other items in the refrigerator alongside Shraddha’s body.

• According to The Times of India, it was reported that in September 2022, one of Shraddha’s friends informed her father about her disappearance for nearly 2.5 months. As a result, Shraddha’s father filed a missing complaint at Manickpur police station in Vasai, Maharashtra on 12 October 2022. Eventually, the case was transferred to Mehrauli police station in New Delhi, considering Shraddha’s last known location. [8]

• Aftab Poonawala was taken into custody on 11 November 2022 at his residence in Chhatarpur on charges of murder (IPC section 302) and tampering with evidence (IPC section 201). Three days later, on 14 November 2022, Aftab Poonawala, the alleged perpetrator, was brought to the Mehrauli Police Station in New Delhi in the company of Delhi police officers.

• Aftab allegedly prepared for the murder of Shraddha by studying human anatomy and immersing himself in crime web series and movies. Hindustan Times reports that Aftab specifically watched ‘Dexter,’ an American crime drama web series, which supposedly influenced his decision to carry out this atrocious act. NDTV also references this information.

• According to reports, it is alleged that Aftab Poonawala disposed of parts of Shraddha’s body by wrapping them in black foil and throwing them into the forest area of Chhatarpur, Delhi. He also fed some of the pieces to stray animals. Aftab Poonawala, the accused, was brought to the forest area in Mehrauli near Delhi where he supposedly got rid of Shraddha’s body parts.

• Aftab reportedly searched online for methods to remove blood stains from the floor, as per media reports. To avoid any suspicion, he allegedly accessed Shraddha’s social media account and covered her credit card expenses until June 2022, according to The Times of India.

• According to reports, Aftab chose to remain in the same apartment even after committing the crime. Officials have stated that Aftab engaged in relationships with other women who supposedly visited him at his residence. The police were able to locate these women by tracing his dating app activities. [17]DNA.

• Shraddha’s father, Vikash Walker, reportedly suspected Aftab’s involvement in his daughter’s disappearance and believed that there might be a ‘love jihad’ connection to her murder. In an interview, Vikash Walker expressed his suspicions about a ‘love jihad’ angle and firmly advocated for Aftab to be given the death penalty. He expressed his trust in the Delhi Police and their investigation, believing that it was headed in the right direction. Vikash Walker mentioned that Shraddha had a closer relationship with her uncle and didn’t communicate with him frequently. He also clarified that he had no prior contact with Aftab. As the first person to file a complaint in Vasai, Mumbai, Vikash Madan Walkar, Shraddha’s father, lodged a missing FIR.

• Shraddha Walker, in a complaint filed on 23rd November 2020 in their hometown of Vasai, Maharashtra, expressed her fear that Aftab would harm her in a gruesome manner. After enduring physical abuse from him for six months, Shraddha finally mustered the courage to write a letter to the police at Tilunj, detailing the horrifying incident where Aftab attempted to suffocate her. In the letter, she described the indescribable fear he instilled in her, constantly blackmailing her with threats of murder, dismemberment, and disposing of her remains.

• Aftab decided to retract his bail plea, which had been submitted to the court on 15 December 2022. Poonawala’s legal representative, M.S. Khan, explained that the bail application was withdrawn due to a “miscommunication” between Aftab and the defendant. The next day, on 23 December 2022, a Delhi court prolonged Aftab’s judicial custody by an additional 14 days.

• On May 9, 2023, the Saket Court in Delhi officially accused him of murder in the Shraddha Walker murder case. During the announcement, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Manisha Khurana Kakkar stated that he had been charged with the murder of Shraddha Walkar, which occurred on May 18, 2022, after 6:30 am, as reported by India Today. This crime is classified under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Between May 18 and October 18, he deliberately dismembered her body to hide evidence and subsequently disposed of her remains in different locations, including Chattarpur. Consequently, he has also been charged with tampering with evidence. [22]