Poonawala assaulted Walkar often, witnesses tell city cops

A Delhi Police team in Vasai, Maharashtra as part of the probe into the Shraddha Walkar’s murder case has interviewed several people who have stated that her boyfriend Aaftab Poonawala was physically abusive towards her, Maharashtra Police officers aware of the matter said on Tuesday.

Walkar, 27, and Poonawala, 28, had been living together in Vasai since 2019. In May this year, the couple moved to Delhi, and on May 18, Poonawala allegedly murdered Walkar and chopped up her body into at least 35 pieces.

According to a Maharashtra Police officer, at least 20 people who recorded their statements with Delhi Police officers have said that Poonawala physically abused Walkar. “Many witnesses have confirmed that Poonawala had assaulted Shraddha on various occasions,” the officer said, asking not to be named. “One witness told us that Poonawala hit Shraddha even without a reason or fight with her.”

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police team stopped its search for Walkar’s mobile phone in the Bhayander creek, where Poonawala claims he dumped the device. An officer, on condition of anonymity, said that the police team conducted a sixhour search operation with three divers in the creek but realised it was very difficult to retrieve the phone.

“Poonawala did go to the Bhayander creek on October 26, after he was questioned by the Manikpur police in Vasai in connection with Walkar’s disappearance, but it is not yet clear whether he threw the phone there... Poonawala has been constantly misleading investigating officers in Delhi by changing his statements of how and where he disposed Walkar’s clothes and mobile phone,” the officer said.

Several witnesses confirmed that Poonawala had assaulted Shraddha on many occasions MAHA POLICE OFFICER