Shraddha Walker, a bright girl from Vasai, Maharashtra, moved to Mumbai in 2018 to pursue better career prospects. She had no idea this decision would land her into a troubled relationship with Aftab Poonawala and, ultimately, a crime so brutal that it shook the entire nation.
Early Life and Ambitions
Shraddha Walker was born in 1995 in Vasai, Maharashtra. She lived with her family, which included her grandfather, Vikas Madan Walkar, her mother, Suman and her elder brother, Shreeja. Despite the family issues due to her parents’ troubled relationship, Shraddha focused on her education. Her family shifted to Palghar for better education, and Shraddha spent most of her life there.
Determined to be independent, Shraddha moved to Mumbai at 20. Through a friend, she got a job at a call centre in Malad. Within weeks, she got an apartment near her office and slowly started adjusting to her new life in the city. During this time, she reconnected with Aftab Poonawala, an old acquaintance from Vasai, and a new chapter of her life began.
The Relationship
Aftab Poonawala, like Shraddha, had moved to Mumbai for better prospects. He had studied at St. Francis High School in Vasai and was doing his Business Management in Mumbai. The first encounter between Shraddha and Aftab at their workplace rekindled the old connection. They quickly became close and spent time together in and out of the office.
Their relationship moved fast, and within a few months, Aftab proposed living together. Given Mumbai’s high living cost and emotional attachment, Shraddha agreed. They started living together, much to the disappointment of their respective families.
Family Disapproval and Isolation
Shraddha’s mother, Suman, disapproved of her relationship with Aftab mainly because of religious differences – Shraddha was Hindu, and Aftab was Muslim. Suman was worried about society and family shame. Despite her mother’s efforts to change her mind, Shraddha was firm.
Her decision to stay with Aftab led to a breakdown with her family. In September 2019, Shraddha left her home for good and cut off all ties with her family. Her mother’s sudden death in January 2020 only made her more attached to Aftab, who had now become her only emotional support.
The Dark Side
Despite the appearance, everything was not okay in Shraddha and Aftab’s relationship. Aftab was controlling and abusive. He used to beat Shraddha physically and emotionally. He used to take her salary to buy drugs. He didn’t contribute to the household expenses, making Shraddha bear the financial burden.
In 2021, Aftab’s family found out about their live-in arrangement and opposed it. This added to the existing problems. Aftab’s infidelity and manipulative behavior would lead to fights. Still, Shraddha would forgive him every time, hoping to have a future where they would get married.
The Move to Delhi
By 2022, Aftab proposed a fresh start in Delhi, promising Shraddha a better life away from their troubled past in Mumbai. Shraddha held on to the hope of saving their relationship and agreed. They planned a trip to Himachal Pradesh before finally moving to Delhi in May 2022.
They stayed with a friend in Chhatarpur who helped them find an apartment. The new apartment was a new beginning for Shraddha but soon became a house of horrors.
The Fatal Night
On May 18, 2022, 9 days after moving into the new apartment, a big fight broke out between Shraddha and Aftab over her constant marriage demands. The fight escalated, and in a fit of rage, Aftab strangled Shraddha until she stopped breathing.
Realizing what he had done, Aftab panicked. He locked the room and slept in another. The next day, Aftab bought a big refrigerator, plastic bags and various chemicals. Over the next few days, he dismembered Shraddha’s body into 35 pieces and stored them in the fridge.
The Grisly Aftermath
Aftab’s actions were cold-blooded. He continued to live in the apartment, cook food and even make tea while Shraddha’s body parts were in the freezer. He would dispose of the body parts gradually, mostly at night, to avoid suspicion.
Despite the brutality of his crime, Aftab was calm. He even went to a doctor for a hand injury he sustained while cutting Shraddha’s body and told the doctor he hurt himself while cutting fruit. This incident would later become a piece of crucial evidence for the police investigation.
The Investigation
The case came to light when Shraddha’s family lost contact with her and got suspicious. Her brother Shreeja monitored her social media to see if she was alive. They finally filed a missing person report, which was transferred to Delhi Police.
In November 2022, Aftab was arrested after his statements didn’t match. He confessed to the crime during interrogation, and the police found the gruesome scene in the Chhatarpur apartment.
Conclusion
The case of Shraddha Walker and Aftab Poonawala is a harsh reminder that even ordinary relationships can have dark secrets. It highlights the need to recognize and address abusive behaviour before it goes too far. Shraddha’s story is a cautionary tale of love, betrayal and the thin line between passion and violence.
Aaftab was arrested after an investigation found his last location in Delhi. He is lodged in Tihar Jail cell number 4 in West Delhi, where he is constantly surveilled.
