Law & Justice

Delhi Court Orders Tihar Jail to Protect Murder Accused Aftab Poonawala After Inmate Threats

By Arnabjit Sur

A Delhi court has directed Tihar Jail to take immediate steps to safeguard Aftab Amin Poonawala, accused of murdering his live‑in partner Shraddha Vikas Walkar in 2022, after he alleged that inmates had threatened to slash his face with improvised weapons. The order, issued by Additional Sessions Judge Hargurvarinder Singh Jaggi of the Saket courts, came after Poonawala, who is lodged in a special cell in Tihar’s punishment ward, told the judge that he had been receiving death threats from fellow inmates for the past ten days. He named five inmates who allegedly threatened him with “improvised weapons” such as a needle. The judge instructed the jail superintendent to ensure Poonawala’s safety and, if necessary, move him to a different ward or cell away from notorious inmates. The court also asked the superintendent to file a report on the actions taken. Poonawala is accused of strangling Walkar on 18 May 2022, dismembering her body, storing the parts in his house’s refrigerator and disposing of them in a nearby forest. He was charged in January 2023 under sections covering murder, abduction and destruction of evidence. The case is pending trial at a fast‑track court, with prosecution witnesses yet to be examined. The court emphasized that the safety of an under‑trial prisoner is a top priority and a hallmark of the criminal justice system. The order was transmitted to the jail superintendent and to the IO/SHO of Mehrauli for information and compliance.