New Delhi: A Delhi court has permitted four technology company officials based in the United States and the United Kingdom to give their testimonies through video conferencing in the Shraddha Walkar murder case. Aaftab Amin Poonawala is currently facing trial for the alleged killing of his live-in partner.
Additional Sessions Judge Hargurvinder Singh Jaggi granted the police request to use video links, pointing out that flying the witnesses to India would involve substantial costs and could unnecessarily prolong the trial. The court emphasized that conducting the depositions virtually supports the interests of justice and helps speed up proceedings.
The witnesses approved by the court are Adrian Silveira, representing WhatsApp and Meta Platforms; Shelby Smith from Google; Aarti Sheth from Gmail; and Luke Mitsi from Bumble Group.
Shraddha Walkar, 27, was killed in May 2022 in Delhi. Investigators allege that Poonawala strangled her, cut her body into pieces, and scattered the remains across various areas. The crime was uncovered months later after her father filed a missing person report, leading to Poonawala's arrest on murder and evidence destruction charges.
The upcoming testimonies from the tech representatives form a core component of the prosecution's strategy to introduce and authenticate digital records. These nodal officers must submit supporting evidence through affidavits pursuant to legal provisions.
Along with DNA and forensic results, electronic data has played a major role in the police investigation. The court's decision allows authorities to gather this crucial overseas testimony without dealing with the logistical complications of physical travel.
Testimonies are scheduled to begin on December 1, with one witness appearing each day. The Delhi Police will work alongside diplomatic missions and government bodies to manage logistics.
Under the court's directives, each overseas witness must report to the nearest Indian embassy or high commission, where a local diplomatic official will oversee the proceedings. Copies of the ruling are being routed to relevant embassies, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure proper coordination and service of summons.