Shraddha Murder Case: PIL In High Court Seeks Transfer Of Probe To CBI, Says Delhi Police Leaking Every Minute Detail To Media

A lawyer has filed a public interest litigation in the Delhi High Court seeking transfer of probe in the Shraddha Walkar murder case from Delhi Police to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Advocate Joshini Tuli in the PIL said that the Delhi Police have revealed "each and every detail" regarding their investigation to the media and public which is not permitted in law.

The plea adds that the presence of media and public at place of recoveries and court hearings amounts to "interference with the evidence and witnesses."

"That the abovementioned incident of murder is alleged to have been taken place in Delhi and thereafter the body parts have been alleged to have disposed at different places, thus investigation of P.S. Mehrauli cannot efficiently be carried out due to administrative/staff paucity as well as lack of sufficient technical and scientific equipment to find out the evidence and the witnesses as the incident had taken place about 6 months back in May, 2022," the plea argues.

The horrific murder came to light when Shraddha's father filed a missing complaint on September 15. An FIR was then registered under Section 365 of Indian Penal Code on October 11 against the victim's live-in-partner Aftab Amin Poonawala.

On the basis of Aftab's alleged disclosure statement, other offences under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC were added to the FIR alleged.

Aaftab is accused of strangling Shraddha to death and allegedly chopping her body into multiple pieces before dumping them.

Aftab is presently in police custody. A city court last week granted permission to the Delhi Police to conduct his narco analysis without using any third degree method.

In this backdrop, the plea adds that on the said date, Aftab could not be produced physically before court due to the high sensitivity of the matter and also because of "fear of different religious groups attacking and injuring him."

"It is pertinent to mention here that the Court of the Ld. MM on 17.11.2022 when the Accused was produced was chock a block with Media persons leaving no space for even the lawyers to step foot in the concerned court room," the plea adds.

Title: JOSHINI TULI v. STATE OF (NCT) OF DELHI & ORS.