Mohali police arrest key accused from Uttar Pradesh for murder of ex-Punjab additional advocate general’s wife

The police said that Rahul murdered Ashok Kumari Goel, 66, wife of Krishan Kumar Goel, on the night of December 29 during a robbery at her residence that was masterminded by Neeraj.

According to the police, a group of assailants broke into the house, while her husband was in Muscat to visit his daughter. The crime came to light the following morning when another domestic help arrived for work and found Neeraj tied to a chair, and Ashok Kumari lying dead inside the house.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the motive was robbery, with the accused fleeing the spot with jewellery and cash. CCTV footage from the locality showed two persons entering the house late at night, helping police zero in on the suspects.

Advocate Krishan Kumar Goel stated that Rahul is the brother of Neeraj. “Rahul had visited our house several times in the past,” he told the police.

He further added that their elder daughter, a doctor currently working in Muscat, was earlier employed in Rishikesh along with her family.“During that period, Rahul had also worked at her residence for a considerable time. He had worked at our daughter’s house as well,” Goel said.

According to him, Rahul had visited Goel’s house several times to meet his brother. “As far as the third person, Nitin, is concerned, we had never heard of him earlier,” he added.

Meanwhile, sources said that the accused disclosed that their initial intention was not to kill the victim. Rahul allegedly told investigators that after entering the house, an argument broke out, leading to a scuffle. During the struggle, the cloth covering his face slipped, and fearing that the elderly woman had recognised him, he allegedly strangled her.

The police said further investigation is underway and more arrests are expected in the case.