In a major development in the Shraddha murder case, the DNA report has confirmed that hair and bone samples recovered by Delhi Police were of the deceased Shraddha Walker. She was strangled to death allegedly by her live-in partner Aftab Poonawala, who then chopped her body into 35 pieces and disposed of them in various parts of Delhi.


A mitochondrial DNA report of the samples matched with that of the victim's father and brother, the Delhi Police said.


The samples were sent for testing at the Center for DNA Fingerprinting Diogonatic in Hyderabad. 


"Mitochondrial DNA report confirms hair and bone sample matching with Shraddha Walker. Delhi Police has received the report from the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics," Special Commissioner of Police, Sagar Preet Hooda as quoted saying by ANI.


"One piece of bone and a bunch of hair purported to be of the deceased have matched with that of her father and brother which establishes the identity of the bone and hair to be that of Shraddha Walker," Special CP added.


Shraddha and Aftab met through a dating app in 2018. Later, they shifted to Delhi on May 8, 2022, and stayed in a rented flat.

 


On May 18, Aftab killed Shraddha, and after chopping her body into 35 pieces, he dumped them across various places over a period of 18 days.

 

Here is what we know so far-


  1. The police said that the bones will now be sent for post-mortem examination to be conducted by a medical board at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).


  2. A forensic analysis report on Thursday confirmed that the DNA of Shraddha's father has matched the bones which were recovered from a forest in south Delhi. The Delhi Police had recovered 13 bone pieces from the Mehrauli forest area while searching for Walkar's body parts. The bone samples were sent for DNA analysis to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory.


  3. The investigators have recovered an audio clip, in which Aftab and Sharddha can be heard arguing. Sources said that Aaftab is heard abusing Shraddha in the audio clip.


  4. Aftab was brought to the Central Bureau of Investigation headquarters for voice sampling testing last week. As per the report, the police is considering the clip as “big evidence” which will go a long way in establishing the motive behind the cold-blooded murder.


  5. Earlier, the teams of the forensic science laboratory and Ambedkar Hospital conducted the narco test of accused Aftab Poonawala that went on for over 2 hours. Sources revealed that he admitted to killing Shraddha in the narco test.