A day after Aftab's 'confession' in the polygraph test, he was brought to Rohini hospital to undergo a narco-analysis test on Thursday. According to officials, Aftab Poonawala, accused of killing his live-in partner, reached the Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital in Rohini at 8.40 am.
Before undergoing the narco test, a general check-up including checking the blood pressure, plus rate, body temperature and heartbeat would be conducted. If the test results are fine then his narco-analysis would begin, said reports.
As part of the procedure, a consent form with complete details of Poonawala and the team conducting his narco test will be read out to him. After he signs the form, the narco-analysis procedure would be conducted.
What is narco test?
Narco analysis involves intravenous administration of a drug (such as sodium pentothal, scopolamine, and sodium amytal) that causes the person undergoing it to enter into various stages of anaesthesia.
In the hypnotic stage, the person becomes less inhibited and is more likely to divulge information, which would usually not be revealed in the conscious state.
Usually, the investigation team suggests for narco tests when they require clarity in the case with all the evidence they received.
According to SC norms, narco-analysis, brain mapping and polygraph tests could only be conducted with the consent of the accused. Also, the statements and remarks made by the accused cannot be submitted as primary evidence in court except under special circumstances.
Noted criminal lawyer and former additional solicitor general Sidharth Luthra was quoted by PTI saying, "Confessions in police custody can become admissible only when a magistrate complies with section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure that says the magistrate is duty bound to ensure confession is voluntary."
Earlier, the Delhi Police had said it sought Poonawalla's narco analysis test as his responses during interrogation were "deceptive" in nature, reported PTI.
Twenty-eight-year-old Poonawalla allegedly strangled his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar and sawed her body into 35 pieces which he kept in a 300-litre fridge for almost three weeks at his residence in South Delhi's Mehrauli before dumping them across the city over several days.
He was arrested on November 12 and sent to five-day police custody, which was further extended by five days on November 17. The court on November 26 sent him to judicial custody for 13 days.
-With PTI inputs
