Shraddha Walkar case: Interfaith couple's wedding reception cancelled in Vasai

Mumbai: As an effect of Shraddha Walkar's tragedic end by her live-in partner Aaftab Poonawala, the reception of a newly married Hindu-Muslim couple was cancelled in Maharashtra's Vasai town following opposition from local organizations here on Saturday, said police.

Both Walkar (27) and her live-in partner Aaftab Poonawala who is arrested for allegedly murdering her brutally in May this year hailed from Vasai in Palghar district near Mumbai.

A news channel editor on Friday morning tweeted a picture of the reception invite and linked it to the Walkar murder case using hashtags 'LoveJihad' and 'ActOfTerrorism'.

The event was to take place on Sunday evening at a hall in Vasai West area, a local police official told PTI.

Cancel the event for the sake of peace

After the tweet went viral, local Hindu and Muslim organisations in Vasai called the owner of the hall and asked him to cancel the event for the sake of peace in the area, the official said.

The families of the couple on Saturday visited Manikpur police station and informed that the reception had been put on hold, he said.

The woman, who is Hindu, is 29 years old while her husband, a Muslim, is 32 years old and both knew each other for the last 11 years, the official said.

Couple had a registered marriage in a court on November 17

Members of both the families supported their relationship and the couple had a registered marriage in a court on November 17.

Around 200 guests were expected for the reception on Sunday, they told police.

There is no so-called Love Jihad angle to this case, the official said.

`Love Jihad' refers to allegations by some right-wing organizations that there exists a conspiracy to convert Hindu women to Islam by marrying them.