The Shraddha Walkar murder trial has faced another interruption after a Delhi court cancelled proceedings scheduled for July 20, 2026, because accused Aaftab Amin Poonawala was due to appear for his final MA Sociology examination inside Tihar Jail.
The examination is scheduled to be held at an IGNOU examination centre within the jail premises during the afternoon. The court accommodated the examination and directed that the recording of prosecution evidence continue from July 21, while the remaining scheduled trial dates were expected to remain unchanged.
The cancellation has attracted attention because July 20 had been fixed as the starting date for day-to-day hearings intended to accelerate the case. In May 2026, the Saket court expressed dissatisfaction with the slow progress of the trial and directed the parties to prepare for continuous proceedings after the summer court break.
Poonawala is accused of killing his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar at their rented residence in Delhi’s Mehrauli area in May 2022. Prosecutors allege that he strangled her, dismembered her body and disposed of the remains at different locations. He has denied the charges and is facing trial. His guilt has not been established by the court.
Delhi court seeks faster progress in murder trial
The case was registered in November 2022, and charges were framed against Poonawala in May 2023 under provisions relating to murder and the disappearance of evidence. The trial has nevertheless remained at the prosecution evidence stage for an extended period.
The original police chargesheet ran to 6,629 pages. Delhi Police later filed a supplementary chargesheet of nearly 3,000 pages containing additional digital and forensic material, including location history and other evidence that investigators said supported the prosecution’s case.
Recent reports state that the combined court record and supplementary material now extend to thousands of pages, while a large number of witnesses have been cited. The volume of evidence is one factor behind the length of the proceedings, but extended cross-examination has also slowed the completion of witness testimony.
In May, the court reportedly criticised the lack of progress after the cross-examination of a police witness continued across several hearing dates. It asked the prosecution and defence to “gear up” and prepare for faster proceedings. The later order for day-to-day hearings from July 20 was intended to ensure that pending prosecution testimony could be completed without avoidable gaps.
Timeline highlights continuing trial delay
May 18, 2022: Prosecutors allege that Shraddha Walkar was killed at the couple’s rented home in Mehrauli.
November 2022: The case was registered, and Aaftab Amin Poonawala was arrested during the investigation.
January 2023: Delhi Police filed the original 6,629-page chargesheet.
May 2023: The court framed charges against Poonawala, who denied the allegations and claimed trial.
May 2024: Police filed a supplementary chargesheet of nearly 3,000 pages containing further digital and forensic evidence.
May 2026: The court expressed concern over the slow pace of proceedings and scheduled day-to-day hearings from July 20.
July 20, 2026: The scheduled hearing was cancelled to allow Poonawala to take his final MA Sociology examination inside Tihar Jail.
July 21, 2026: Recording of prosecution evidence was directed to resume.
The postponement does not cancel the broader day-to-day trial schedule, but it has renewed concerns about the time being taken to complete the evidence stage. Shraddha Walkar’s family and friends have repeatedly expressed frustration over the prolonged proceedings and called for the trial to conclude without further unnecessary delay.
However, an accused person retains the legal right to education, medical care, representation and a fair opportunity to defend themselves while in custody. The central issue is therefore not whether those rights should be denied, but whether the court can accommodate legitimate requirements without allowing an already lengthy trial to lose momentum.
The trial remains ongoing. All allegations against Poonawala continue to be examined by the court, and he must be treated as innocent unless found guilty through the judicial process.
