Following the shocking incidents involving the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddiqui and the firing at Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's home, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang earned nationwide notoriety. With their name frequently used in extortion calls and whispered threats, Mumbai Police recently uncovered a startling revelation during their investigation of the Siddiqui murder case. Aftab Poonawala, implicated in the infamous Shraddha Walkar murder case in Delhi, has allegedly drawn the attention of the Lawrence gang.
After his arrest in the gruesome murder of Shraddha Walkar, Aftab Poonawala was held in Delhi’s Tihar Jail. Sources suggest the Lawrence gang has been keeping tabs on him there. This insight emerged from Shivkumar Gautam, a prime suspect in the Siddiqui case, who shared that his associate, Shubham Lonkar, had informed him of this detail. As these disturbing reports surfaced, Tihar Jail authorities have heightened their security vigilance to ensure Aftab's protection.
The Shraddha Walkar murder case shook the nation to its core. It erupted in May 2022 when Delhi Police registered a missing report for 26-year-old Shraddha Walkar, and the ensuing revelations left everyone stunned. Police arrested her alleged lover, Aftab Poonawala, who shockingly confessed to her murder and dismemberment into 35 pieces.
Shraddha hailed from Palghar district in Maharashtra and worked at a call center in Mumbai. In 2029, she met Aftab Poonawala on a dating app. Their friendship quickly escalated into a romantic relationship, and the couple moved in together, distancing themselves from their families. When Shraddha informed her family about her relationship with Aftab, they disapproved due to his Muslim faith.
Undeterred, Shraddha embraced Aftab as her everything, dreaming of marriage and pressing for commitment. Overwhelmed by the pressure, Aftab began plotting to eliminate her. He first took her on a trekking trip to Himachal Pradesh, contemplating pushing her to her death during a hike, thereby staging it as an accident. However, he failed to execute his sinister plan.
Source: aajtak
Eventually, in 2022, Aftab relocated to Delhi with Shraddha. He secured a rented apartment in Chhatarpur through an acquaintance named Badri. The couple continued living together, but their relationship soured. Aftab's abuse intensified, with frequent beatings and cruelty under the influence. Worn down by his behavior, Shraddha sought solace through a dating app, leading to a growing friendship with another man.
On May 17, 2022, Shraddha went to meet her new friend in Gurugram for the first time. When she didn’t return home by evening, Aftab grew anxious, repeatedly calling her, only to receive no response throughout the night. The following morning, around 11 AM on May 18, she returned to their Chhatarpur flat. An infuriated Aftab awaited her and accused her relentlessly.
Shraddha retorted sharply, declaring her actions were none of his concern. Her defiance further riled Aftab, leading to a violent outburst where he beat her. Yet, harmony seemed restored temporarily until the evening, when he erupted over her previous night's absence again. A fierce fight broke out as Aftab threw her to the ground, strangling her in a fit of rage.
Source: aajtak
After the murder, Aftab pondered how to dispose of her body. Initially, he planned to transport it to Himachal Pradesh for disposal. But considering the road checkpoints from Delhi to Himachal, he scrapped this plan, fearing discovery. Instead, he turned his attention to a nearby sprawling forest as a potential site for dismemberment and disposal without drawing attention.
Equipped with sharp tools, Aftab meticulously dismembered Shraddha's body into 35 pieces in their apartment bathroom. He strategically disassembled parts to complicate identification and successfully incinerated her fingers and nails separately. Over several days, he discreetly discarded the pieces in the forest, employing acid to sanitize the apartment of forensic clues.
Scheming to avoid suspicion, Aftab manipulated Shraddha's mobile phone to create the illusion she was alive, changing her display picture frequently and responding to messages from her friends. This guise lasted a few months until he abruptly ceased. Eventually, a concerned friend notified Shraddha's brother about her prolonged social media absence, sparking worry.
Source: aajtak
Her brother relayed these concerns to their father, who attempted contact unsuccessfully and subsequently approached local authorities revealing Aftab’s connection with his daughter. The police initially dismissed these pleas, but the father persistently pressed for an investigation. Eventually, Delhi Police were alerted, culminating in Aftab's swift arrest.
Under rigorous interrogation, Aftab confessed to the grisly murder, recounting events in detail. The police and forensic teams scoured his flat and the forest for evidence, recovering body fragments. Earlier this year, Delhi Police filed a supplementary charge sheet, a 3,000-page document incorporating digital and forensic evidence, detailing this chilling case.
