Abstract
The case of Shraddha Walker murder has been
one of the most shocking criminal cases in modern India. The murder of Shraddha
Walker by her live-in partner, Aaftab Amin Poonawala, occurred in Delhi in
2022. The case gained considerable national media coverage because of its
violent nature and the heavy use of forensic science in investigation. The case
of Shraddha Walker will discuss the process of investigating the crime, the
evidence gathered, medico-legal findings, forensic involvement, the legal provisions,
and the significance of the case.
Introduction
The murder of Shraddha Walker is one of the
criminal cases that have become the most widely discussed criminal cases in
India due to their violent nature and the forensic investigation. The murder
took place in Delhi on May 18, 2022, when the accused allegedly killed and
dismembered the corpse of his girlfriend to cover up the crime.
Forensic science, digital evidence, and
medico-legal examination have become an integral part of the investigation of
such a crime. This paper will analyze the case summary, the investigation
process, the evidence obtained, forensic involvement, the legal provisions, and
the overall significance of the case.
 |
| Shraddha Walker |
 |
| Aaftab Amin Poonawala |
Case Summary
Shraddha Walker met her boyfriend, Aaftab
Amin Poonawala, through a dating app and started living together in a live-in
relationship. The two are alleged to have faced opposition from their
respective families. It is reported that in 2022, the two shifted to Delhi and
rented an apartment in Mehrauli.
According to police, the couple often had
arguments about their marriage and other relationship issues. One of such
violent disagreements took place on 18 May 2022 when the man allegedly killed
the woman by strangulation. To cover up the crime, the accused is said to have
bought a refrigerator and other necessary items and cut the body in several
pieces before storing it in the fridge. The body was further disposed of in
nearby forests at night over a period of days.
It all came out in open after the father of
Shraddha filed a complaint about her missing person. Police investigation led
to the identification of the accused who then admitted the crime under pressure
during questioning.
Shraddha Walker’s father- Vikas Walkar
Investigation
Delhi police investigated the case by
working closely with forensic specialists, digital analysts, and investigators.
Investigation process mainly involved reconstruction of the chain of events and
collection of relevant physical evidence.
Police team thoroughly examined the rented
premises in Mehrauli. They collected samples of blood traces from the apartment
where the body had been allegedly dismembered despite the efforts made to hide
it from being identified. Moreover, police searched the forests to retrieve
skeletal remains.
The investigation included searching for
electronic and digital footprints of the accused. Mobile phone records,
internet searches made, geolocation data, and messages on social media played
important role in the inquiry
Police also questioned eyewitnesses
including neighbors, friends, medical experts, and shopkeepers.
Searching for evidences
Types of Evidence Recovered
The following types of evidence were
collected:
1. Biological Evidence
o
Blood stains found in the
apartment.
o
Human bones recovered from
forests.
o
Samples of DNA collected from
Shraddha’s father.
2. Digital Evidence
o
Mobile phone records.
o
WhatsApp chat logs and other
social media interactions.
o
Online search history of the
accused.
o
GPS data and electronic
transactions.
3. Physical Evidence
o
A refrigerator used to keep
body parts of the victim.
o
Cutting instruments and
domestic objects.
o
The clothing of the deceased.
4. Circumstantial Evidence
o
Testimonies of neighbors and
friends.
o
Behavioral changes after the
disappearance of Shraddha.
o
Late report and misinformation
alleged to be shared by the accused.
Medico-Legal Examination
Conducting medico-legal examination posed
several challenges because of the nature of the remains recovered. Due to the
decomposition process, it was difficult to ascertain the exact reason and date
of death.
In an attempt to identify the deceased, DNA profiling tests were carried out on
bones found. Forensic scientists checked whether the bones belonged to humans
and estimated their age and sex based on the analysis. It was found that the
victim met her end through homicidal violence. However, the medico-legal
investigation could not reach concrete conclusions because of fragmentation of
the body.
Role of Forensic Science
Forensic science had a significant role to
play in the resolution of the Shraddha Walker murder case. Important
contributions by forensic science include:
Ø DNA Analysis
Use of DNA profiling helped to ascertain
that the skeletal remains found belonged to Shraddha Walker.
Ø Crime Scene Examination
Use
of chemical tests helped to detect cleansed blood stains and biological matter
within the apartment.
Ø Digital Forensics
Investigation into electronic devices such as
mobile phones, browsing history, communications history, location information
helped to get vital clues in investigating the crime.
Ø Forensic Anthropology
Skeletal remains were examined by the experts
to determine their human nature and establish certain biological
characteristics.
Ø Psychological and Behavioral
Analysis
Psychologists and other behavioral experts
were able to examine the conduct of the accused before, during, and after the
crime.
The role of forensic science in the
above-listed aspects helped to establish the guilt of the accused despite the
lack of eyewitnesses and incomplete physical remains.
Sections Involved
The accused was tried under several sections
of the IPC including:
Ø Section 302 – Murder
Ø Section 201 – Causing disappearance of evidence of offence
Ø Section 404 – Dishonest misappropriation of property
Ø Section 34 – Common intention (if applicable during investigation)
Ø Provisions of other Acts relating to electronic evidence and
procedures for the investigation of offenses as per Code of Criminal Procedure
(CrPC), Indian Evidence Act would have been also useful in the trial.
Judgement
There has been considerable interest in the
case amongst the media and general public ever since it came into public
domain. Trial involved scientific evidence, digital and electronic evidences,
witnesses' testimony, forensic findings, and the conduct of the accused after
committing the murder.
The prosecution was largely dependent upon
circumstantial and forensic evidence since there were no eyewitnesses to the
murder. Evidence obtained through remains, DNA reports, electronic evidence,
and other investigations served the purpose of prosecuting the accused.
Significance of the Case
The case of Shraddha Walker's murder was
quite significant from social, legal, and forensic points of view.
First of all, it emphasized the increased relevance and importance of forensic
science in modern investigation practices. The case showed how valuable DNA
analysis and digital forensics can be in solving cases where there is limited
physical evidence.
Another crucial aspect that the case
revealed was the need to raise awareness among the population regarding
domestic violence, toxic relationships, and women's security. Additionally, the
case made it clear that there should be a quicker reporting of missing persons
cases. Finally, the murder case demonstrated the problems associated with
evidence destruction by offenders.
Due to the intense media coverage, many
people started discussing the issues associated with criminal psychology,
live-in relationships, and the protection of women's rights under the law.
Conclusion
The case of Shraddha Walker murder has
become one of the most disturbing homicide cases in India because of the
cruelty of the offense and complexity of the criminal investigation. However,
despite the offender's efforts to hide his crime, evidence destruction, and
late reporting of the crime, the investigators managed to solve the case by
using forensic science techniques, digital forensics, and thorough
investigation.
Reference
1.
Hindustan
Times – Shraddha Walkar case: Aaftab Poonawala charged with murder
2.
NDTV
– Shraddha Walkar had complained about threats in 2020
3.
Hindustan
Times – Evidence and investigation details in Shraddha Walkar case
4.
NDTV
– DNA test confirms bones belonged to Shraddha Walkar
5.
NDTV
– Hair and bones recovered confirmed through DNA analysis
6.
NDTV
– Multiple weapons allegedly used in body dismemberment
7.
The
Week – Chargesheet included forensic evidence and witness statements
8.
Times
of India – Key developments in the Shraddha Walker murder case
Author: Ms. Gayathri R Pillai
Volunteer
Applied Forensic Research Sciences
(AFRS)
Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
🌎 www.appliedforensicresearchsciences.in
