Mehrauli murder: Accused Poonawala taken to forensic lab to record voice sample

NEW DELHI: Mehrauli murder accused Aaftab Amin Poonawala was on Monday taken to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory here to record his voice sample after police came across an audio clip in which he was purportedly heard fighting with Shraddha Walkar.

According to sources, police came across the audio recording, purportedly of a heated argument between Walkar and Poonawala, while investigating the murder case.

The accused, currently lodged in Tihar Jail, was taken to the CFSL to record his voice sample which will be checked if it matches the male voice in the clip, they said.

“We have got hold of an old audio clip in which Poonawala could be heard having a heated argument with Walkar. It is an old clip but could prove to be crucial evidence with respect to the case,” a source privy to the development in the case said.

“Poonawala was taken to the CFSL where his voice sample was recorded and it will be matched with the purported audio clip to ascertain if it was Poonawala’s voice in the alleged audio.

“This will help us understand the kind of relationship they shared and further help us in establishing the trigger behind the incident,” the source added.

According to them, Poonawala reached the CFSL office around 11 am and left for Tihar from there around 3 pm after recording his voice sample for which the Delhi Police had sought permission from a city court.

The sources also said the investigating team has got a purported video of Poonawala and Walkar from a witness’ phone in which Poonawala is allegedly seen being “counselled.” This video was purported to have been shot in Mumbai.

“We are also checking the veracity of the purported video and will question Poonawala in this regard as the probe is still underway,” the source said.

The investigating team is also in the process of getting Poonawala’s face recognition test done. During the process, a 3D image of his face will be taken to ensure that he cannot deny his presence in the said video, they added.

Poonawala allegedly strangled his live-in partner Walkar, 27, and sawed her body into 35 pieces, which he kept in a 300-litre fridge for almost three weeks at his Mehrauli residence, before dumping them across the city over several days.

He was arrested on November 12, and a court in New Delhi on Friday extended his judicial custody by 14 days. (PTI)