Delhi Murder: Thousands Of Litres To Remove Evidence? Water Bill A Clue, Say Sources

Delhi Live-In Partner's Murder: Rs 300 bill may not seem unusual at first, but 20,000 litres a month are free, which is why water use is being probed

Police are investigating why Aftab Poonawala, who allegedly killed his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar and cut her body into pieces in Delhi's Mehrauli, ended up getting a water bill even when 20,000 litres are free every month. A constantly running tap to mask any chopping sounds, hot water to wash blood off the body, and chemical mixed with water to remove stains from the flat — these are theories that cops are considering around the Rs 300 pending bill, sources said.

Most houses in the colony get a 'zero' bill as 20,000 litres — roughly 35 buckets a day — are more than enough for a family. The couple had moved into the rented flat on May 14, but Aftab Poonawala was living alone since May 18, the day he allegedly killed Shraddha Walkar, the probe says.

"Such a high water bill is quite surprising," said flat owner Rohan Kumar's father, Rajendra Kumar, who said the rent was Rs 9,000 a month. Sources said the rent agreement has names of both: Shraddha's first, then Aftab's. "He used the transfer the rent online between the 8th and 10th of every month," Rajendra Kumar said, "That's why I never needed to go to the flat."

Both of them call centre employees, they lived together in Maharashtra's Vasai, their hometown near Mumbai, before moving to Delhi.