Shraddha Walkar murder: ‘One year on, can’t even do her last rites’

It has been a year since I lost my daughter, but we have not been able to conduct her last rites yet," said Vikas Walkar, whose daughter Shraddha Walkar was hacked, making her case hit headlines in Mumbai and Delhi last year. "The Delhi cops have found only 13-14 pieces of her body," said the teary-eyed Vasai resident, adding that he is also waiting to see MBVV cops face action for negligence.

Aftab Poonawala and Shraddha had been in a romantic relationship for some years and had been living together in a flat at Mehrauli, Delhi. He is suspected to have murdered Shraddha on May 18 last year, chopped her body into 35 pieces and stored them in a refrigerator. He dumped the bags in the jungle of Mehrauli, the cops said.

"But the Delhi police have managed to recover only 13-14 pieces of my daughter's body from the jungle of Mehrauli in a year," said Vikas. The Walkar family and their friends have decided to take out a peaceful march in Vasai on Wednesday to seek justice for Shraddha. Meanwhile, Vikas awaits justice from a court in Delhi. He has filed a petition in Saket court, Delhi, seeking direction to the Delhi cops to hand over the body parts of his daughter so that the family could finally let Shraddha rest in peace.

Shraddha Walkar, the deceased; (right) Vikas Walkar, the father of the deceased. Pics/Hanif Patel

"The Saket court will take a decision on my petition on May 22," he said. Advocate Seema Kushwaha, Vikas's counsel, said, "My client has neither received the body nor any part of the body of his deceased daughter, so that he can perform her last rites for the peace of her soul. As per their custom, the last rites must be performed within a year." "So, we have requested the court to pass an order to provide the bones of the deceased for last rites/cremation," she added.

‘No action against city cops'

Vikas said that the Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV) police have not yet taken action against Tulinj cops who, in November 2020, ignored Shradhha's complaints of domestic abuse and threats to kill her. The family had sought against Manikpur police whom they had approached to file a missing person's complaint when Shraddha was not reachable in August. The cops at both the police stations had allegedly turned them away. An SIT was formed on the direction of Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis to probe the allegations and Vikas recorded his statement in January.

"Manikpur police's inaction gave Poonawala sufficient time to destroy the remaining pieces of evidence after murdering my daughter. Had the Manikpur police arrested Poonawala immediately when he was first called here (Vasai), the vital pieces of evidence, including the body parts and murder weapons, would have been recovered. But API Sachin Sanap, who was forced to handle my matter after I approached the DCP office, did nothing. He let Poonawala return to Delhi where he destroyed all evidence. There is no clue about the remaining pieces of my daughter's body now," Vikas said.

Also Read: Shraddha Walkar murder case: Exact moment Aftab Poonawala's devious plan took shape

Father demands action

CCTV camera footage of October 18, 2022, showed Poonawala walking in his neighbourhood early in the morning with two bags. The police suspect the bags contained Shraddha's body parts that he was taking to dispose of in the forest. "Lethargic police officers must be suspended or removed from the force if their inaction benefits brutal killers like Poonawala," he added.

"I met the MBVV police commissioner about a week ago to know the status of my statement. But, no action has been taken against the officers of Manipur and Tulinj police stations. It's been a year and I have not been able to perform my daughter's last rites yet" a choked-up Vikas said. On the probe by the SIT, a senior officer from MBVV police requesting anonymity said, "The inquiry has been conducted and the report will soon be submitted before the higher ups for necessary action, if required." However, the officer did not reveal any details.

"Her killer must be hanged to death. This is the least I demand. It is only possible if the case is heard in a fast-track court," Vikas said. Aftab has been behind bars since his arrest by Delhi cops on November 11 last year.

May 18
Day, in 2022, Aftab is suspected to have killed Shraddha

22 May
Day Delhi court will hear Vikas's petition