Domestic mastermind behind robbery-murder of former AAG’s wife in Mohali, arrested: police

According to police, Neeraj confessed that he was tempted by greed as he knew there was cash and gold in the house. He had been waiting for an opportunity when the elderly woman would be alone.

DSP City-1 Prithvi Singh Chahal said, “Neeraj admitted that he knew the family members were travelling abroad to visit their elder daughter. He realised the house would remain largely vacant for several days, and only the elderly woman would be present. He then hatched the conspiracy with his cousins and called them to Mohali to execute the plan.”

On the night of the crime, the assailants tied Neeraj to a chair and gagged him to stage a false scene of a robbery before strangling Ashok Goyal, police said, adding that they fled with around 40 tolas of gold and Rs 8.5 lakh in cash.

CCTV footage showed the accused walking through Phase 5 PTL and Phase 2, after which they hired an autorickshaw to Chandigarh and later escaped by train from the railway station, an officer said.

Investigators said the nature of the crime immediately pointed towards an insider’s involvement, as only cash and jewellery were targeted, indicating precise knowledge of their location. The late-night opening of the latch further strengthened suspicion, police added.

Neeraj was taken into custody on December 30, when police visited the house to inspect the crime scene. Though his formal arrest was recorded later, police confirmed that he confessed to being the mastermind.

“Neeraj has been arrested and produced before the court, which granted a two-day police remand. Efforts are now underway to recover the stolen cash and jewellery,” DSP Chahal said.

Two accomplices have been identified, and multiple police teams are conducting raids in Uttar Pradesh to arrest them. Further arrests are expected as the investigation continues.