Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Jan 10: Delhi’s Saket court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of Aaftab Poonawala, the accused in the Shraddha Walker murder case, for the next 14 days.
The court also ordered the administration to give Poonawala some warm clothing on the grounds that he has asked for some legal reference materials to read.
On December 24, a Delhi court accepted the Delhi Police’s request for authorization to record Poonawala’s voice and stated that while an accused person has a right to a fair trial, a fair inquiry is also necessary for the benefit of the general public.
“True, a fair trial is the right of the accused but it is also true that fair investigation is also required in the larger public interest as the offence cannot escape and crime cannot go unnoticed merely because the accused is not ready to aid in the investigation,” Metropolitan Magistrate Vijayshree Rathore of Saket court said.
“Thus, the application moved by the Investigating Officer (IO) seeking permission for a voice sampling test of the accused is allowed,” the court added.
The court rejected the defence attorney for the accused’s argument that his client’s consent is required in all circumstances, including the voice sampling test.
According to the court, there is no such restriction against recording the accused’s handwriting, fingerprints, or voice sample without their free and informed consent.
Poonawala is charged with murdering his girlfriend Shraddha, dismembering her body, and discarding the pieces in the Chhatarpur jungles in South Delhi.
