Shraddha Walkar case: Aaftab requests for novels, literature books, jail authorities give him 'The Great Railway Bazaar'

Aaftab Amin Poonawala, accused of killing his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar and chopping her body into 35 pieces, has requested the jail authorities to provide him with English novels and literature books to read. 

On his request, Aaftab has been provided with a copy of ‘The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train Through Asia’, a travelogue by American novelist Paul Theroux, according to Tihar Jail sources quoted by ANI.

The jail authorities gave him the book as it is not based on crime and does not have content that could make him harm others or himself, the sources said. The decision was taken considering the grisly crime he committed in which he first strangled Shraddha to death, then cut her body into 35 pieces, stored them in a fridge and kept disposing them off over a period of next several days.

According to police, most of the time in jail, Aaftab plays chess. "Poonawala spends time by plotting chess moves, often solitary and occasionally sparring with two fellow inmates," jail authorities said. 

According to sources, Aaftab shares his jail cell with two more inmates who frequently play a game of chess on the chess board available in the cell. Often Aaftab keenly observes the games of the two other inmates and whenever he gets a chance he plays both the white and black pieces. He is the single player and he strategises and plays both sides himself, sources said. 

"The vicious Aaftab is fond of chess and he prepares different strategies and plays the board from both ends," sources said, adding that he is a "good player, in this game". 

Both the undertrials who share Aaftab's cell have been accused in a theft case and according to sources they have been asked to keep a close watch on him. 

The jail sources also informed that Aaftab plans his own moves against himself and that is something the Delhi Police have been suspicious of from the very beginning "Aaftab is very cunning. His every move seems part of a well-planned conspiracy as if he is playing alone from both ends..." 

Earlier, talking to ANI, one of the investigators in the case said that Aaftab had totally followed what the police told him to do. He confessed to his crime, co-operated with police, and agreed to the polygraph and narco tests. But now the police are becoming suspicious of his "good" behaviour. 

Apart from the 'obedient' behaviour of Aaftab, Delhi Police are suspecting the 'rehearsed' answers given by him. "Aaftab's behaviour and good conduct are under question. How can there be one answer to each question? It looks like the accused has already rehearsed the answers," officials said. 

However, during the interrogation, Aaftab confessed that he used a Chinese chopper to dismember Shraddha's body. Delhi Police could do a brain mapping to read Aftab's mind to find out what's brewing inside. "We are still waiting for the DNA report, only after that will consider the Brain mapping test," police said. 

Initially, Aaftab was trying to misguide the Mumbai Police. But, once the case came under the jurisdiction of Delhi Police, he started confessing his crime. The police say they suspect it to part of his "devious" scheme. 

As per information, the jail authorities have increased the security outside Aaftab Poonawalla's jail quarters, and deployed an additional guard outside his barrack, especially after an attack on a jail van ferrying him outside the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Delhi's Rohini. 

The Tihar Jail Authority has also said that in view of the danger to Aftab inside the jail, "special vigil is being kept around his cell", adding, "Aftab neither talks much to anyone nor does he mingle". 

According to jail officials, Aftab eats and sleeps on time as if he has no remorse for his actions."It seems from his actions that the murder of Shraddha Walkar was also a part of a deeper conspiracy like his chess strategies," the jail sources stated. Aaftab is accused of strangling to death his live-in partner and chopping her body into 35 pieces. He is also alleged to have preserved the chopped body parts in a refrigerator before dumping them in forested areas in Delhi and Gurugram. 

Police had earlier said Aaftab, who confessed to killing Shraddha and chopping her body was giving misleading answers to questions.Delhi Police had submitted in court that Aaftab was giving wrong information and was misleading the investigation.