A Delhi court has postponed the scheduled hearing in the Shraddha Walkar murder case after the main accused, Aftab Amin Poonawala, requested permission to attend his final Master of Arts (Sociology) examination conducted by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).
The court accepted the request and cancelled the proceedings that were scheduled for 20 July, allowing the accused to appear for his university examination on the same day.
According to court proceedings, Poonawala informed the court that his final MA Sociology examination would be held inside Tihar Jail, where he is currently lodged as an undertrial prisoner. Since the examination date coincided with the scheduled court hearing, he sought an adjournment.
The matter was considered by Additional Sessions Judge Hargurvinder Singh Jaggi, who noted that IGNOU's examination schedule runs from 11 July to 20 July. Taking this into account, the court approved the request and fixed a new date for further proceedings in the murder case.
Poonawala is currently being held in Central Jail No. 3 of Tihar Jail under judicial custody. Like other eligible inmates pursuing higher education, he has been permitted to take his examinations at the examination centre established within the prison complex under the supervision of prison authorities.
Under Indian prison rules, undertrial prisoners and convicted inmates can continue their education, provided they meet the eligibility requirements and receive the necessary permissions from the concerned authorities. Universities such as IGNOU regularly conduct examinations inside prisons to help inmates continue academic programmes without interrupting legal custody.
The decision to adjourn the hearing was purely administrative and was made to avoid a clash between the court proceedings and the scheduled university examination. The court clarified that the postponement does not affect the progress of the trial, and legal proceedings will continue on the next scheduled date.
The Shraddha Walkar murder case remains one of India's most widely followed criminal trials. The case came to national attention after Shraddha Walkar was allegedly murdered in Delhi in 2022. Investigators alleged that her body was dismembered after the killing, leading to an extensive forensic investigation and widespread public attention.
Following the investigation, police filed a chargesheet containing forensic evidence, witness statements, digital records and other material collected during the inquiry. The trial is currently progressing before the sessions court in Delhi.
During the proceedings, the prosecution continues to present evidence before the court, while the defence has the opportunity to challenge the evidence and cross-examine witnesses in accordance with the law.
Legal experts note that adjournments for academic examinations are not unprecedented when an undertrial prisoner is enrolled in a recognised educational programme. Courts generally balance the accused person's legal rights with the need to ensure that criminal proceedings continue without unnecessary delay.
The case continues to remain under judicial consideration, and the court is expected to resume hearing the matter after the completion of the accused's university examinations.