Mehrauli murder: It happened in the heat of the moment, accused tells court

Accused’s police custody extended by four more days; nod given for polygraph test; Aftab says he will cooperate with police but is currently finding it hard to recall the details of the May 18 murder

Murder accused Aftab Poonawala, who allegedly strangled his live-in-partner Shraddha Walkar and dismembered her body into several pieces, told a Delhi court on Tuesday that he committed the crime “in the heat of the moment”.

Metropolitan Magistrate Aviral Shukla extended Aftab’s police remand by four days after the Delhi police said their investigation was in a crucial stage and more body parts were expected to be recovered from different areas based on the accused’s disclosure.

Mr. Shukla, during the virtual hearing, asked Aftab if he knew what he had done. To this, he replied: “...It [murder] happened in the heat of the moment and it was not deliberate.”

Another Metropolitan Magistrate, Vijayshree Rathore, allowed the police to go ahead with a polygraph test on the accused. The court directed the police to carry out a medical test on Aftab every 24 hours and submit the medical reports before the court.

Forensic Science Laboratory Assistant Director Sanjeev Gupta said the procedure for the polygraph test has been initiated and premedical tests are being carried out.

Teams of FSL and CBI have been deployed at Aftab and Shraddha’s rented accommodation in south Delhi’s Chhatarpur area, sources said.