Delhi HC Rejects Plea for Deadline in Shraddha Walkar Murder Trial

• The Delhi High Court rejected a plea by Shraddha Walkar's brother seeking a deadline for the trial against Aftab Poonawalla.
• The court held that no such directions are required since the trial court was already conducting day-to-day proceedings to conclude the case as soon as possible.
• Out of 222 witnesses, 157 have been examined, with six examinations and 14 cross-examinations still pending in the Shraddha Walkar murder trial.
• The delay in concluding the case may impact the family's ability to perform final rites.

The court held that no such directions are required since the trial court was already conducting day-to-day proceedings to conclude the case as soon as possible.

The Delhi High Court has rejected a plea by Shraddha Walkar's brother seeking a deadline for the trial against Aftab Poonawalla, who is accused of murdering and dismembering his live-in partner in 2022. The court held that no such directions are required since the trial court was already conducting day-to-day proceedings to conclude the case as soon as possible.

The plea was filed by Walkar's brother, who expressed concerns that the trial may not finish within the next five years at its current pace. During the hearing, the State's counsel informed the court that out of 222 witnesses, 157 had already been examined, with six examinations (including four overseas data witnesses) and 14 cross-examinations still pending.

The Delhi High Court was dealing with a plea filed by Walkar's brother, which highlighted the difficulties faced by the family in performing final rites due to the ongoing trial. The court was informed that the remains of Shraddha Walkar were still in the custody of the investigating agency and would only be handed over once the trial is over.

The State's counsel presented a detailed breakdown of the remaining witnesses, including 14 who need to be cross-examined and six pending examinations, including four overseas data witnesses from Google and Bumble. The court was assured that the trial would continue on a day-to-day basis.

The rejection of the plea by the Delhi High Court has significant implications for the Shraddha Walkar murder trial. The delay in concluding the case may impact the family's ability to perform final rites, which could be a source of distress for them.

Furthermore, this ruling sets a precedent for similar cases, where families may face delays in accessing their loved ones' remains due to ongoing trials. Lawyers should closely watch this development and its potential implications on future court proceedings.

Lawyers should watch for the potential delay in concluding the Shraddha Walkar murder trial, which may impact the family's ability to perform final rites and could set a precedent for similar cases.

Source: Original reporting via PTI