Fit of rage or premeditated? Shraddha letter prompts police rethink in murder investigation

A day earlier, in the first acknowledgement in court of violence between him and Walkar, Poonawala had told a Delhi court that he hit her because she provoked him. “He told the judge that he was provoked because of which he hit,” advocate Avinash Kumar, Poonawala’s legal aid counsel, told The Indian Express.

During questioning too, Poonawala has said he acted in a fit of rage, police said. However, the letter, which has striking similarities to Walkar’s alleged fate – Poonawala has told police he cut her body into over 30 pieces and disposed of them over the next few months – will prompt police to revisit their line of questioning, sources said.

Police had earlier called Poonawala’s responses “deceptive”, and added that “each uttering of the accused is being assessed upon the crucible of admissible evidentiary value”.

“We have to look at the question of whether it was coincidence that she was killed in the same manner (as the letter mentions), or if it was premeditated. At present, he claims to have killed her in a fit of rage. He and the couple’s friends have told us about multiple fights they had in the last two years. Walkar’s family and friends were aware of the domestic violence,” said an officer.

Poonawala is yet to undergo the polygraph test, with sources saying he complained of a fever which is why the process was delayed. Sagarpreet Hooda, Special CP, Law and Order, confirmed that the test was not conducted on Wednesday.

An FSL official said, “One cannot start the polygraph process during the first visit. On Tuesday, he was here for 3-5 hours and experts checked his health and observed his psyche to see if he is fit and ready for the test. On Wednesday, we were informed he has a fever and is not feeling well. He has taken medicines for the same. This could affect the observations and hence the tests have been delayed.”

On Tuesday evening, he was taken to the FSL office in Rohini for a “pre-analysis” by forensic experts. Police teams also paid another visit to the Chhattarpur Pahadi residence, where Walkar was allegedly murdered, on Wednesday.