Mohali Phase 5 murder case cracked; domestic help planned killing of ex-Punjab AAG's wife, say police

PTC Web Desk:  The Mohali police claimed to have solved the murder of Ashok Goyal (66), the wife of former Punjab Additional Advocate General Krishan Kumar Goyal. As per the police, the crime was allegedly planned by the family’s long-serving domestic help, identified as Neeraj.

Senior police officials said Neeraj is the prime accused and had orchestrated the killing with the help of his relatives.

The incident took place on the night of December 29 at the family’s residence in Phase-5, Mohali, when the rest of the family was out of the country.

According to investigators, the accused staged a fake robbery to mislead the police. Neeraj was tied to a chair and gagged to create the impression that he was also a victim after which Ashok Goyal was strangled. The assailants then fled the house with valuables, including around 40 tolas of gold jewellery and Rs 8.5 lakh in cash.

Superintendent of Police Dilpreet Singh, Mohali City, said the case had been cracked and the key accused was in custody. “The domestic help has confessed to planning the murder. Police teams are carrying out raids to apprehend the remaining accused,” he said.

Although Neeraj’s formal arrest is yet to be recorded, the police confirmed that he has been detained since December 30, when investigators visited the house to examine the crime scene. A native of Uttarakhand, Neeraj had been working with the Goyal family for more than eight years.

During questioning, Neeraj reportedly admitted to involving his relatives in executing the plan. Two accomplices have been identified and multiple police teams are conducting searches across Delhi, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, where the suspects are believed to be hiding.

CCTV footage collected from the area showed the accused leaving the neighbourhood and heading towards the main road. Investigators said the suspects moved through nearby sectors, hired an autorickshaw to reach Chandigarh and later escaped by train.

Police officials said suspicion of an insider’s role arose early in the investigation, as the burglars targeted only cash and jewellery and appeared to know exactly where the valuables were kept. The opening of the house latch late at night without forced entry further strengthened this suspicion.

The police are now probing what may have motivated Neeraj to allegedly plan the crime after years of employment with the family. Further arrests are expected in the coming days.