Mehrauli murder: Blood samples of victim's father, brother collected for DNA analysis
New Delhi(PTI): The blood samples of the father and brother of the woman, who was allegedly killed and sawed into 35 pieces by her live-in partner in Mehrauli here, have been collected for DNA matching with skeletal remains recovered till now, police said on Friday.
In a statement, police also said in view of the the "deceptive nature" of responses provided by the accused, an application for conducting his narco analysis test was made and it has been approved by the court.
Police have been directed by a Delhi court to complete the narco analysis test of Aaftab Amin Poonawala within five days.
Poonawala (28) allegedly strangled Shraddha Walkar and sawed her body into 35 pieces which he kept in a 300-litre fridge for weeks at his residence in Mehrauli before dumping them across the city over several days.
"To ascertain that the bones belong to the victim, the blood samples of the father and brother of 'A' (Walkar) have been collected for DNA analysis. To find out if any incriminating evidence resides in digital devices seized from the place of offence, the same has also been sent for forensic retrieval of data," the statement said.
The probe into the case of the woman, who belongs to Mumbai, is being undertaken in the "best possible professional manner", it said. The Delhi Police was seized of the matter when, on November 9, a team of the Mumbai Police came to the Mehrauli police station and handed over documents related to the woman, the statement said.
It said that according to the inquiry then conducted by the Mumbai Police, the woman was staying with Poonawala at Chhatarpur Pahadi.
The woman's father informed that she was staying with Poonawala, a resident of West Mumbai, they were in a live-in relationship for the last three years and there was a history of repeated violence by Poonawala, it said.
On this basis, a case under Indian Penal Code section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person) was registered on November 10 at Mehrauli police station and investigation was taken up, the statement said giving details that led to the registering of the case.
During investigation, Poonawala was apprehended and interrogated. Initially, he tried to mislead interrogators by claiming that the woman had severed her relationship with him and had left their rented accommodation, it said.
Police said that during sustained interrogation and cross questioning, he confessed that he had killed Walkar.
Since May, he was living with the woman in Delhi and on May 18, had strangulated her to death. Thereafter, he cut her body into pieces and gradually, over a period of time, had disposed of the pieces, according to the statement. He was arrested on November 12
The place of offence -- the rented accommodation in Chattarpur -- has been closely inspected by the crime team and experts from Forensic Science Laboratory, Rohini, the statement said.
From the place, multiple exhibits have been seized. Following up on the disclosures, various combing operations have been carried so far out at various places, including some forest areas, from where bones have been seized, it said.
"In view of the deceptive nature of responses being provided by the accused, an application for conducting his narco analysis test was made and, after due consideration, it has been approved by the court. The same is to be conducted in due course," it stated.
Statements made by accused are being assessed upon "the crucible of admissible evidentiary value". Multiple teams are camping outstation to recreate the lives of the accused and the victim together, it said.
Similarly, multiple teams are carrying out search operations to recover the missing skeletal parts. Several inter-disciplinary teams are working round the clock for documenting, finding discrepancies and further refining the versions and the motives being put forth by the accused, the statement said.
Poonawala and Walkar met each other through an online dating app. Later, they started working for the same call centre in Mumbai and fell in love.
But their families objected to the relationship as they belong to different faiths, prompting the couple to move to Mehrauli earlier this year. Around mid-May, the couple had an argument over marriage, which escalated and Poonawala killed her.
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Araijeet's four goals hand India 5th title in men's junior Asia Cup
Muscat, Dec 4: Araijeet Singh Hundal slammed four goals as defending champions India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 5-3 in the summit clash to win a hat-trick of titles in the men's junior Asia Cup here on Wednesday.
This was India's fifth title in the continental tournament, having previously won the crown in 2004, 2008, 2015 and 2023.
The tournament was not held in 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Araijeet converted three penalty corners in the fourth, 18th and 54th minutes besides finding the net from a field effort in the 47th minute. Dilraj Singh (19th) was the other goal getter for India.
For Pakistan, Sufyan Khan (30th, 39th) converted two penalty corners, while Hannan Shahid scored from field play in the third minute.
Japan defeated Malaysia 2-1 to claim the third spot earlier in the day.
There was hardly anything to differentiate between the two sides as both India and Pakistan fought hard for ball possession in the first quarter.
The highlight of the first quarter was ariel passes employed by both the teams.
But Pakistan had the first laugh, striking as early as the third minute through a field goal from Shahid.
India didn't sit back and secured their first penalty corner seconds later, and Araijeet stepped up to draw level with a powerful drag-flick to the right of Pakistan goalkeeper.
India upped their game in the second quarter and secured their second penalty corner in the 18th minute and Araijeet struck again with another powerful flick.
A minute later, a fine field goal by Dilraj extended India's lead to 3-1.
Pakistan, however, reduced the margin in the 30th minute through a penalty corner conversion by Sufyan.
Pakistan were the better side on display after the change of ends and they drew level in the 39th minute through another penalty corner conversion by Sufyan.
India secured their third penalty corner in the 47th minute, but Araijeet's effort was saved by Pakistan goalkeeper Muhammad Janjua.
Araijeet, however, was not to be denied his hat-trick as he found the net from a field effort seconds later to hand India the lead again.
India pressed hard on the Pakistan citadel in the final 10 minutes and secured a few more penalty corners and Araijeet found the net again from a fine variation to make the scoreline 5-3.
