In Fridge Murder Case, Aftab Poonawala's Mumbai-Delhi Courier In Focus

As more details of the gruesome murder of Shraddha Walkar in Delhi keep trickling in, an investigating team from Delhi Police today interrogated the owner of the logistics company in Mumbai that had transported Shraddha's boyfriend and alleged killer Aftab's "household items" from Mumbai to Delhi.

Officers from Delhi Police reached Vasai and questioned Govind Yadav, the owner of Good Luck Movers and Packers, at Naya Nagar Police Station on Mira Road.

Mr Yadav said Aftab had couriered a consignment of "household items comprising a fridge, utensils and clothes" for Rs 20,000 to a Delhi address through his company in June this year.

Shraddha and Aftab had moved to Delhi from Mumbai in May and were live-in partners. Following an argument over expenses and infidelity, Aftab reportedly strangled Shraddha to death on May 18. He later cut up her body into 35 pieces and kept them in a fridge at their rented apartment in Delhi's Chhatarpur, before gradually disposing them of at different locations across the city over 18 days, police said.

Delhi Police have now recorded the statements of more than eight persons over the last three days as part of the investigation.

Today, the visiting Delhi Police team in Mumbai interrogated Abdulla Khan of Unique Park Society where Aftab's family lived. Police also questioned Jayashree, the landlady of the flat at Regal Apartments, where Aftab and Shraddha were tenants in 2020.

However, police have not yet been able to contact Aftab's parents who vacated their house and left Unique Park barely 15 days before Shraddha's murder came to light. They were Unique Park residents for almost 20 years.

Speaking to mediapersons after his interrogation, Mr Yadav said he had never met Aftab in person. "He had made an online booking to transport his shipment to a Delhi address and made a payment of Rs 20,000 online," he said.

Mr Yadav further said that he was not even present in Mumbai when the booking was done and the shipment was picked up for delivery.

"The entire process was handled by my employees after we received full payment from the client. That is how it works. Except for those who pick up and deliver shipments, we hardly ever get to meet our clients in person since the entire transaction is done online," he said.

Mr Yadav added that Delhi Police officers had asked for his Aadhaar Card and a copy of the receipt generated for Aftab's consignment.