Aaftab Amin Poonawala, the prime accused facing trial in the 2022 Shraddha Walkar murder case, has approached a local court in Delhi seeking urgent protective measures inside Tihar Jail. Citing immediate danger to his personal safety from fellow inmates, Poonawala requested judicial intervention, prompting the Saket District Court to issue explicit instructions to the prison administration.
Threats of Disfigurement and Assault Inside Prison Ward
In his formal plea before the court, Poonawala claimed that several co-inmates have been repeatedly threatening him over the past 10 days. According to his submission, the inmates warned that they would use a weapon to slash his face and inflict severe physical harm. To substantiate his claims, he provided the court with the specific identities of five inmates who have allegedly issued these direct threats.
The horrific details of the Shraddha Walkar murder case had shocked the country when it came to light in 2022. Poonawala stands accused of murdering his live-in partner and chopping her body into 35 pieces. Amid the ongoing judicial proceedings, the victim's father, Vikas Walkar, who spearheaded the legal fight demanding justice for his daughter, passed away last year.
Saket Court Orders Prison Officials to Tighten Measures
Taking serious note of the security concerns raised by the accused, the Saket District Court instructed Tihar Jail authorities to take prompt preventive steps. The court underscored that ensuring the physical safety of an undertrial prisoner remains the direct statutory obligation of the jail administration.
While reviewing the plea, the court noted that authorities should take immediate steps to safeguard the prisoner and suggested isolating him from hostile inmates if required. The court explicitly noted that the jail superintendent must take prompt action to secure the accused, including moving him away from notorious prisoners into an isolated cell if necessary.
Detained in Ward 4A, Jail Authorities Asked for Status Report
Poonawala informed the judicial magistrate that he is currently lodged in Ward 4A within Tihar Jail. This particular section functions as a designated special cell, conventionally utilized as a punishment ward for inmates. He argued that his current lodging leaves him vulnerable to physical confrontation and targeted attacks by dangerous co-prisoners.
To evaluate the ground reality of the allegations, the Saket court has formally directed the concerned jail superintendent to submit a comprehensive status report. The report must detail the specific security steps taken by the prison administration to counter the reported threats and ensure Poonawala's safety inside the facility.
