Shraddha Walkar Case: Google, WhatsApp Officers to Testify Online
A Delhi court has permitted online deposition of Google, WhatsApp, and Bumble officials from the USA and UK in the Shraddha Walkar murder trial.
In a significant breakthrough for the Shraddha Walkar murder trial, a Delhi court has granted permission for the online deposition of key Nodal officers from global tech giants. The witnesses, representing WhatsApp LLC, Google LLC, Gmail, and Bumble Group, will testify via video conferencing from the United States and the United Kingdom.
The decision comes as the trial against accused Aaftab Amin Poonawala nears its conclusion. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Hargurvarinder Singh Jaggi ruled on Saturday that allowing these foreign officials to testify remotely is essential to prevent "undue delay and exorbitant expense" that would arise from attempting to secure their physical presence in India.
Breaking the Digital Trail
The prosecution, led by Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Madhukar Pandey, seeks to examine these officers to establish critical digital evidence. These witnesses are expected to tender evidence through affidavits as required under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
The specific witnesses scheduled to provide testimony include:
- Adrian Silvera: Nodal Officer for WhatsApp LLC and Meta Platforms, Inc., based in Menlo Park, California, USA.
- Shelby Smith: Nodal Officer for Google LLC, based in Austin, Texas, USA.
- Arti Sheth: Nodal Officer for Google (Gmail), based in Mountain View, California, USA.
- Luke Mitsi: Nodal Officer and Law Enforcement Operations Manager for Bumble Group, based in London, United Kingdom.
A Complex International Procedure
To ensure the legality and smooth conduct of these proceedings, the court has established a sophisticated framework for the remote hearings. The Court Point will be the video conferencing courtroom at the South District, Saket Courts Complex in Delhi. Meanwhile, the Remote Point for each witness will be the nearest Indian Embassy or High Commission relative to their official address.
An official from the respective Indian diplomatic mission will serve as the Remote Point Coordinator to manage the technical and legal aspects of the testimony. Furthermore, Inspector Ram Singh, the investigating officer, has been authorised to act as a liaison to ensure all permissions move through the proper channels in a timely manner.
Timeline and Logistics
The court has set a strict schedule to maintain the momentum of the trial. The testimony of these witnesses is slated to commence on December 01, 2026, with the court directing that one witness be recorded per day.
The legal process will involve several high-level government bodies, including:
- The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
- The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
- The Consulate General of India and various High Commissions
The summons will be served through these ministries in accordance with international laws regarding Letters Rogatory (LRs) and Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) requests. The court has also emphasized that all parties must account for international time zone differences to ensure the scheduled hearings proceed without interruption. While the prosecution builds its case through digital footprints, the defence, represented by Advocate Akshay Bhandari and Megha Saroa, continues to contest the charges against Poonawala.