Shraddha’s brother in court: Aaftab beat up my sister, then asked her to forgive him

Shraddha’s brother, Shreejay Vikas Walkar, told the public prosecutor that Shraddha had left her Mumbai house, where she lived with Aaftab, after their parents told her to not be in a relationship with him. He further told the court that on being advised against her relationship with Aaftab, Shraddha told them she was “old enough to take her own decisions”.

Shreejay also told the court the family tried to counsel his sister but she did not listen and shifted to a rented accommodation in Naigaon, Mumbai, with Aaftab. He claimed his sister was “under the influence” of the accused, and the couple would often have verbal and physical scuffles, but Shraddha still continued to live with him.

Shreejay added that after their mother’s death, the family tried to convince her but she did not listen and eventually they lost touch with her.

Besides Shreejay, the prosecution also examined two other witnesses — a neighbour of the couple in Delhi and an auto driver. While the auto driver apprised the court of ferrying Shraddha to various locations, the neighbour told the court about the couple moving to Chattarpur Pahadi and the instances where she had seen them outside the house.

The court has now posted the matter for cross-examination of all prosecution witnesses by the defence counsel on July 12. Other prosecution witnesses, including several of the couple’s friends and close contacts, will appear before court on July 17 and 18 and record their statements.

Aaftab was charged on May 9 under IPC sections pertaining to murder and causing disappearance of evidence for allegedly killing, chopping Shraddha’s body into several pieces and throwing it in the forests at Mehrauli last year. He had pleaded not guilty and had claimed trial.