Maharashtra Deputy CM Fadnavis Says SIT Will Probe Shraddha Murder Case, Oppn Seeks Death Sentence For Accused

Fadnavis said the state government would also request Union Home Minister Amit Shah to have the case heard in a fast-track court.

Deputy CM of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis ( Image Source :Getty )

New Delhi: Maharashtra's Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that a special investigation team (SIT) comprising senior police officers will investigate the Shraddha Walker murder case.  

He further stated that the SIT will also investigate the alleged delay in registering the case and withdrawal of Shraddha's letter and whether there was any political pressure behind it. 

“So far, it has been found there wasn't political pressure on Shraddha Walkar to withdraw the complaint. We are investigating the matter. There was a month's gap between the filing and withdrawal of the complaint. We will probe what action did the police took during that time,” Fadnavis said in the state legislature in Nagpur.

Fadnavis said the state government would also request Union Home Minister Amit Shah to have the case heard in a fast-track court.

State Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar has demanded a death sentence for the accused, stating that a message should go to society that such an act only deserves capital punishment. 

Shraddha Walker was allegedly strangled by her live-in partner Aftab Poonawala in their residence in Delhi's Mehrauli area. He then dismembered her body parts in 32 pieces and stored them in a 300-litre fridge for almost three weeks, before dumping them across the Mehrauli forest area over several days.

Around two years ago, Walkar complained to Maharashtra police that Aftab had beaten her and threatened to kill her.

In her complaint to Tulinj police in Palghar in November 2020, Walkar alleged, "Poonawala has been abusing me and beating me up. Today he tied to kill me by suffocating me and he scares and blackmails me that he will kill me cut me up in pieces and throw me anyway. It's been six months since he has been hitting me. But did I not have the guts to go to the police because he would threaten to kill me."

The letter further claimed that Poonwala's parents were aware that he beat her up and that he attempted to kill her.