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In the Shraddha Walkar murder case, the Delhi High Court granted accused Aftab Poonawala relief by directing the Tihar Jail officials to release him from solitary confinement for eight hours each day during the day in compliance with jail policies. Poonawala claimed in his habeas corpus petition that he was being held in solitary confinement for 22 hours a day on the pretense of protection, and this led to the order.

But the judge ordered that Poonawala be taken back to his cell at night because of the alleged threat to the accused. Advocate Akshay Bhandari, Poonawala’s lawyer, told the court that whereas other prisoners were released eight hours a day, Poonawala was only permitted two—one in the morning and one in the evening.

Bhandari further brought attention to the fact that Poonawala had not broken any laws while incarcerated and had been kept in solitary confinement since March 2023. Standing Counsel (Criminal) Sanjay Lao, who is a representative of Tihar Jail, responded by stating that Poonawala was detained in a security jail because of alleged threats against him. He also brought up an incident in which he was beaten during his transport to a forensic lab.

Poonawala faces charges under Section 201 of the IPC for allegedly causing the loss of evidence in addition to being accused of killing his live-in girlfriend, Shraddha. The pair lived together in Mehrauli and met via a dating app.

After a domestic fight on May 18, 2022, Poonawala is accused of killing Walkar. Over the next eighteen days, she is said to have dissected Walkar’s corpse and scattered the pieces all over the city.

On January 24, 2023, the Delhi Police issued a 6,629-page chargesheet in this case. Following that, Poonawala was charged with murder and evidence disappearance at this trial court.