Shraddha Walkar Case: Aftab Poonawala, the accused in the Shraddha Walkar murder case, is studying sociology while in jail; consequently, a scheduled court hearing has been postponed to accommodate his exam. Aftab had murdered his girlfriend, Shraddha, and dismembered her body; some of her remains were even recovered from a refrigerator in his home. When the case first came to light, it dominated headlines for days. The sheer brutality inflicted upon Shraddha sparked widespread revulsion towards the accused, Aftab. The case is currently proceeding in court, and the accused remains incarcerated. Amidst this, it was revealed that the accused is pursuing a sociology course through IGNOU. As he is scheduled to take an exam on July 20, the court hearing set for that day has been adjourned. A Delhi court approved the cancellation of the proceedings scheduled for July 20 after Aftab Amin Poonawala stated that he would be appearing for his final M.A. Sociology exam at Tihar Jail on that day.
Aftab Pursuing Sociology via IGNOU
Additional Sessions Judge Hargurvinder Singh Jaggi noted that the examinations, conducted by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), are scheduled to take place between July 11 and July 20 at an exam center located within Tihar’s Central Jail No. 3, where Poonawala is currently held as an under-trial prisoner.
Hearing Postponed Due to July 20 Exam
In an order dated July 8, the court stated, “The accused/under-trial prisoner (UTP) Aftab Amin Poonawala has mentioned in his application that on July 20, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, he is to appear for his M.A. [exam] at the IGNOU exam center (located within Tihar’s Central Jail No. 3)…” He has to take his final Sociology exam. The exam dates are scheduled from July 11, 2026, to July 20, 2026.
Sought exemption from physical appearance
Poonawala had filed an application seeking exemption from appearing physically in court on July 20. He stated that his final exam was scheduled for that day between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM. Accepting his application, the court cancelled the hearing for July 20 and ordered that the recording of prosecution evidence begin at 2:00 PM on July 21, while proceedings would continue on the previously scheduled dates.
Shraddha murdered and body chopped into pieces
It is worth noting that Aftab murdered Shraddha Walkar, a 27-year-old call center employee, in May 2022. It is alleged that Poonawala strangled Walkar to death, chopped her body into multiple pieces, stored them in a refrigerator, and disposed of them across various parts of Delhi over several days. Poonawala committed the crime in a rented flat in Mehrauli, Delhi. He was arrested on November 12, 2022.
