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The Delhi High Court has declined to establish a timeline for concluding the hearings in the Shraddha Walker murder case involving accused Aftab Amin Poonawala. The court noted that the hearings are already being conducted on a daily basis. Justice Madhu Jain, while addressing a petition filed by Walker's brother, Shreejay Vijay Walker, stated, “It is evident that the lower court is making every effort to expedite the proceedings.”

There is no need for further directives as the hearings are ongoing daily,” she added. Poonawala is accused of allegedly strangling Walker, with whom he was in a live-in relationship, on May 18, 2022. According to a 6,629-page charge sheet submitted by the Delhi Police, Poonawala reportedly dismembered Walker's body and stored the parts in a refrigerator, later disposing of them in various deserted locations around the city. However, these remains were eventually recovered.

The petitioner's lawyer argued that the proceedings are progressing at an exceedingly slow pace, suggesting that if this continues, the hearings may not conclude for several years. Senior advocate Amit Prasad, representing the Delhi Police, countered that the lower court is already conducting hearings daily, except on Saturdays and Sundays. He mentioned that out of more than 200 witnesses, 157 have already testified.

Upon the senior advocate's request, the court urged the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs to expedite assistance in questioning certain foreign witnesses as required by the lower court. The court subsequently closed the proceedings on the petition. Shreejay Vijay Walker, the petitioner, contended that the criminal proceedings in this case have been pending for an extended period without justifiable reasons.

He emphasized that such delays hinder the delivery of justice and violate the constitutional provision for a speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution.