The Delhi Police probing the sensational Shraddha Walkar murder case got a breakthrough as the DNA of her father matched with the body parts recovered from the Mehrauli forest.
This is the first major evidence the police have received directly linking her live-in partner Aaftab Poonawala to the murder.
Poonawala was arrested based on his confession of killing Walkar and chopping her body into 35 pieces to dispose of in different locations.
Though Poonawala was arrested last month, the Delhi Police had the uphill task of finding evidence of the murder that happened six months ago.
While most of the chopped body parts remained missing, the police recovered a total of 13 decomposed bones and part of a jaw from the Mehrauli forest, where Poonawala admitted to dumping them.
The bone samples were sent for DNA analysis to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory.
"The police has received the DNA report of the bones found. The DNA of the bones matches with the DNA samples of Walkar's father," the police said.
Special Commissioner of Police Law and Order, Delhi, Sagar Preet Hooda told ANI that they have received the DNA and polygraph test reports from the CFSL.
"Police have received DNA and polygraph test reports from Central Forensic Science Laboratory. These reports will help us further in the investigation," Sagar Preet Hooda said.
He further said that these body parts will now be sent for post-mortem examination.
Besides the body parts, CFSL also examined traces of blood found in the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom of the house, knife, clothes, mobile and a laptop recovered from the house.
Police believe their case will be stronger before the court once the reports arrive.
"Based on his disclosures we are corroborating scientific evidence with a statement he gave to us. It will be instrumental to the case as his statement alone might not be admissible in court. Multiple teams are in process of collecting evidence that will eventually help us in filing a watertight chargesheet to take this case to conviction," a police officer said.
Unlike the polygraph and narco analysis of Poonawala, which are not admissible as evidence in court, DNA tests are.
Poonawala and Walkar, both residents of Mumbai, had met through a dating app and as their families were against their relationship, they started living together.
The couple had moved to a rented accommodation in Delhi in May, where Poonawala killed his partner and chopped her body into pieces.
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