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12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case

Woman was found dead with bullet injuries in Gurugram in 2013; detailed judgment awaited

3 min readChandigarhDec 17, 2025 11:21 AM IST

An FIR was initially registered at the Civil Lines police station in Gurugram on the complaint of her brother, Pradeep Aggarwal.

More than 12 years after a 28-year-old woman, the wife of a Haryana judicial officer, was found dead with bullet injuries in Gurugram, a special CBI court in Panchkula on Tuesday acquitted her husband and his parents of charges of dowry death, criminal conspiracy and cruelty.

The acquitted include the woman’s husband Ravneet Garg, who was then posted as chief judicial magistrate, his father K K Garg, a retired sessions judge, and his mother Rachna Garg.

Additional district and sessions judge Rajeev Goyal, special judge for CBI cases, acquitted the three of offences under Sections 304B (dowry death), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 498A (cruelty by husband or his relatives) of the Indian Penal Code. A detailed judgment is yet to be released.

According to the prosecution, Geetanjali, a resident of Sector 8, Panchkula, was found dead on July 17, 2013, at the Gurugram police lines with multiple bullet injuries. A post-mortem examination reported three bullet injuries and a head injury. Her family alleged she had been harassed for dowry and murdered.

An FIR was initially registered at the Civil Lines police station in Gurugram on the complaint of her brother, Pradeep Aggarwal. The investigation was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation on the family’s request.

In September 2016, the CBI arrested Ravneet Garg, then posted as civil judge (senior division) in Kaithal, in connection with the case. He was subsequently granted bail. In December the same year, the agency filed its chargesheet, alleging that Garg and his parents had caused Geetanjali’s death for dowry.

During the trial, public prosecutor Amit Jindal argued that a licensed revolver belonging to Garg was found near the body and that a ballistic report indicated the bullets recovered from the victim had been fired from the same weapon. The prosecution also pointed to live cartridges recovered from Garg’s residence and alleged dowry demands to support its case.

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The defence, represented by Terminder Singh, Manbir Rathee and Parmod Bali, countered that the accused had been falsely implicated and had no role in Geetanjali’s death. They argued that while the CBI continued to investigate the case as one of murder and medical opinion also pointed in that direction, the agency changed the charge to dowry death under Section 304B at the time of filing the chargesheet.

Senior counsel Terminder Singh further submitted that evidence during trial showed Geetanjali had spoken to her parents on the day of the incident and had made no complaint against her husband, undermining allegations of dowry harassment and cruelty.

After hearing the arguments and examining the evidence, the court acquitted all three accused. Ravneet Garg had been placed under suspension following his arrest in the case.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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