The most heinous and gruesome murder of Shraddha Walkar allegedly by her live-in partner Aaftab Amin Poonawala has sent shock waves throughout the country. The manner in which the accused chopped off the deceased’s body in 35 pieces before dumping them in the forest area near Mehrauli reflects both the cruelty and barbaric nature of the crime. Aaftab is in police custody and is being interrogated by detectives, who would have to work overtime to connect all the dots, if they have to secure conviction when the trial begins following the completion of investigations and filing of the charge-sheet. Therefore, it is from this early stage itself that the Commissioner of Police should entrust some of the more experienced senior officers to monitor the probe and ensure that all loose ends are properly tied up. The suspect has been making inconsistent statements and is repeatedly trying to mislead the interrogators. On its part, the police have been engaged in Nishaan Dehi (re-enactment of the act and how the body parts were disposed) by taking Aaftab to various spots in the jungle. The challenge is to somehow dig out evidence, which would establish the direct link of the accused with the murder, as it may be a case difficult to prove, if the body and the murder weapon is not found. The emphasis has to be on scientific evidence in which the Forensics can play a major part. In the activity which may have stretched to nearly a month when the body parts were disposed in the middle of the night, the suspect may have left behind certain clues. Thus, the forensics while examining the murder scene and the fridge where the parts were stored, are likely to come across traces of the deceased’s hair, flesh or other such evidences. Another challenge would be to correctly conclude if the crime was on grave provocation or was pre-mediated. The investigation that follows must supplement the hypothesis. Presuming the murder took place in the heat of the moment, the disposal involved a lot planning and execution. It is extremely difficult for a single person to carry out the act without faltering at some stage or the other. TV channels are talking about the Narco-analysis test, which could help, but cannot establish the guilt conclusively in a court of law. In the Arushi Talwar case, her parents and the compounder were subjected to this test, but to no avail. The CBI at that time had also subjected some of the suspects to this test without following proper procedures. Even during the Nithari killings of children and women, the two accused Mohinder Singh Pandher and his assistant Surinder Koli were put through such an examination. And later the 26/11 accused Ajmal Kasab made certain disclosures after undergoing this test. In this instance, Aaftab has to be properly questioned and confronted and the entire probe must be closely overseen by crime detection veterans. The trial should not result in his acquittal, but conviction. The case has made headlines all over and is not going to be easily forgotten; the media would not take the focus of this brutal crime. Although this case has made many old timers refer to the sensational Tandoor Murder case of 1995, yet the barbaric dimension is extremely disturbing. The ball is in the court of the police who have to acquit themselves with some first rate investigation.
PANKAJ VOHRA