DNA match: Police now have a strong case against Aaftab Poonawalla for murdering Shradha Walker

NEW DELHI: The bones recovered by Delhi Police from a forest area in Mehrauli in south Delhi belonged to Shraddha Walkar. Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) has conveyed this to the police, citing a DNA match of tissues found in the bones with the samples collected from Shraddha's father and brother.
This is significant because it conclusively proves that she was murdered.The cops will now get an autopsy conducted on the bones as CFSL has reportedly given the opinion that the bones bear signs of contact with a sharp-edged weapon. Delhi Police has, meanwhile, appointed two special prosecutors to represent them during the trial.
Forensic report trashes Aaftab's defence that Shraddha left him to go somewhere
The CFSL, which conducted the DNA tests, gave a report to Delhi Police on Wednesday evening stating that the "DNA profiles were consistent". It observed: "During the parentage DNA testing, the laboratory identified the length of the two alleles (variant form of a gene) found at each locus. They have been found to be of the same size," a source said regarding the content of the report, which also has tables having three columns with numbers representing the DNA match of recovered bones with her father and brother.
With the DNA report proving that Shraddha had died, the police now have a strong case to allege that she was killed by her live-in partner, Aaftab Poonawala. The forensic report also trashes his defence that she had left him and gone somewhere. Till now, the police were counting on circumstantial evidence and Aaftab's disclosures were feebly backed by some technical proofs like her mobile activity and CCTV footage.
Sources said that over 10 bones, including those from the jaw and lower limbs, had matched. Most of the bones which matched were recovered from the Mehrauli jungle. Postmortem of the bones will be conducted by a medical board at AIIMS. "The PM report will help us to know the time and date of the murder," an official said.
Meanwhile, LG V K Saxena has approved a proposal moved by Delhi Police for appointment of special public prosecutors to represent them in the trial. "Advocates Madhukar Pandey and Amit Prasad will be representing Delhi Police in the matter," an official said. Delhi Police is likely to file a chargesheet in the case by January end.
Forensic reports from the Delhi government's lab on weapons and samples collected from Aaftab's flat are awaited. However, the police have received the report of the polygraph test conducted on Aaftab and are studying it. Aaftab may be questioned again if the cops need clarity on any of his answers. Report of the narcoanalysis test is also awaited. The cops will mainly look for discrepancies in Aaftab's statement which he gave to them against what he said in these tests which, however, are not admissible as evidence in court. Aaftab is currently lodged in jail number 4 of Tihar. He was arrested on November 12. So far, no one has come to meet him in jail. "Apart from a book, he has not demanded anything," the official said.