New Delhi: In New Delhi, the Delhi High Court issued a directive on Friday instructing Tihar Jail authorities to permit Aaftab Amin Poonawala, the primary suspect in the high-profile Shraddha Walker murder case, to have outdoor access for eight hours daily before confining him to a solitary cell at night.
The bench, led by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, issued this order in response to a petition filed by Poonawala, arguing that his continuous solitary confinement violates his rights and is unjustified under the pretext of security concerns.
Poonawala's legal representative contended that while other inmates enjoy eight hours of outdoor time daily, Poonawala has only been granted one hour each in the morning and evening.
In compliance with the petitioner's plea, the court directed the jail authorities to grant Poonawala the same outdoor access as other prisoners, totaling eight hours per day. However, it mandated that he be confined to a solitary cell during nighttime hours.
The jail authorities defended their decision to keep Poonawala separate from other inmates, citing security threats. They referred to previous court orders emphasizing the need for heightened security measures following an attack on Poonawala while being escorted to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Rohini.
Poonawala's counsel highlighted the lack of human interaction experienced by his client in jail and protested against his solitary confinement, asserting that Poonawala has not committed any infractions during his incarceration.
Poonawala stands accused of strangling his live-in partner, Shraddha Walkar, and dismembering her body in Delhi's Mehrauli on May 18, 2022. He allegedly disposed of Walkar's remains in various locations across the national capital over subsequent days to evade detection.
The Delhi Police filed a voluminous chargesheet comprising 6,629 pages on January 24, 2023, detailing the allegations against Poonawala. Following this, a trial court formally charged him with murder and tampering with evidence in connection with the case.
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