A quiet neighborhood in Mohali, Punjab, was thrust into chaos this week after the gruesome discovery of **Ashok Kumari Goyal**, wife of former Additional Advocate General **Krishna Kumar Goyal**, found murdered inside her home. The 60-year-old woman had been strangled, and in a bizarre twist, the family’s male servant was found **tied to a chair**—alive but unable to stop the attack.
Initial reports from Punjab Police suggest a **botched robbery** may be behind the killing, with significant amounts of cash and valuables reported missing from the residence. But as investigators dig deeper, inconsistencies in the servant’s account have raised red flags—leading to his **detention for further questioning**. With the perpetrators still at large, the case—dubbed the **Punjab wife murder**—has gripped the state and reignited concerns about rising home invasions in affluent areas.
Table of Contents
- The Punjab Wife Murder: What Happened?
- Who Was Ashok Kumari Goyal? A Respected Family Shattered
- The Servant’s Role: Inconsistencies and Suspicion
- Police Theory: Robbery Gone Wrong—or Something Darker?
- Security Concerns for Elite Homes in Punjab
- Historical Context: Punjab Crime Trends (2020–2025)
- Next Steps in the Investigation
- Conclusion: A Community in Mourning, Seeking Justice
- Sources
The Punjab Wife Murder: What Happened?
The incident unfolded in Sector 70, Mohali—a well-to-do area housing bureaucrats, lawyers, and retired officials. According to police, Krishna Kumar Goyal was away when his wife was attacked. The servant, whose identity has not been officially released, claimed that **two masked intruders** entered the house in the early afternoon, tied him up, and began ransacking the premises.
When Goyal returned home later that evening, he found his wife lifeless and the servant still bound. Paramedics declared Ashok Kumari dead at the scene. A post-mortem confirmed **death by strangulation**.
Missing items reportedly include gold jewelry, foreign currency, and lakhs of rupees in cash—fueling the robbery narrative.
Who Was Ashok Kumari Goyal? A Respected Family Shattered
Ashok Kumari was not just the spouse of a prominent legal figure—she was an active community member known for her involvement in charitable and religious activities. Her husband, Krishna Kumar Goyal, served as Additional Advocate General for Punjab, representing the state in high-profile constitutional and civil matters.
The family has long been respected in legal and administrative circles. The violence of this attack—inside their own home—has left colleagues and neighbors stunned. “This is not just a murder. It’s a violation of trust in the sanctity of one’s home,” said a former colleague in a statement to local media.
The Servant’s Role: Inconsistencies and Suspicion
While the servant is currently classified as a **witness**, not a suspect, police sources admit his testimony contains puzzling gaps. Why didn’t the intruders harm him? How did they know exactly where valuables were kept? And why target a home when the husband—a high-profile lawyer—was known to be frequently absent?
These questions have led investigators to consider whether the servant may have **prior knowledge** of the household’s routines or even colluded with the attackers. He remains in **custodial interrogation** under Section 160 of the CrPC—a standard but serious step in murder probes.
Police Theory: Robbery Gone Wrong—or Something Darker?
Punjab Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) is treating robbery as the **primary motive**, citing the missing items and signs of forced entry. However, seasoned criminologists caution against jumping to conclusions.
“Home invasions targeting retired officials are on the rise in North India,” notes Dr. Reena Mehta, a forensic psychologist at [INTERNAL_LINK:crime-patterns-in-north-india]. “But often, what appears as robbery masks personal vendettas or insider involvement.”
Investigators are currently reviewing CCTV footage from nearby homes, mobile tower records, and forensic evidence from the crime scene—including possible DNA traces on the ropes used to bind the servant.
Security Concerns for Elite Homes in Punjab
The murder has sent shockwaves through Mohali’s elite enclaves, many of which rely on private security but lack integrated surveillance. Local residents are now demanding better patrolling and smart home security systems.
According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Punjab saw a 12% increase in residential burglaries in 2024—many involving violence. This case could accelerate policy changes around private home security protocols.
Historical Context: Punjab Crime Trends (2020–2025)
While Punjab’s overall crime rate has declined in recent years due to effective policing, **targeted crimes against professionals**—doctors, lawyers, and bureaucrats—have shown troubling spikes. The state’s proximity to smuggling routes and organized crime networks adds complexity.
This incident echoes the 2022 Ludhiana doctor murder, where robbery was also the initial theory—later disproven.
Next Steps in the Investigation
Authorities are now:
- Tracking the missing jewelry through pawn shops and online resale platforms.
- Conducting polygraph and narcoanalysis tests on the servant (pending court approval).
- Interviewing neighbors and domestic staff from nearby homes for leads.
A reward of ₹5 lakh has been announced for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators.
Conclusion: A Community in Mourning, Seeking Justice
The **Punjab wife murder** is more than a headline—it’s a tragic reminder of how quickly safety can be shattered. As investigators race against time to solve the case, a grieving family and a shaken community await answers. One thing is certain: justice for Ashok Kumari Goyal won’t just bring closure—it will send a message that no home is beyond the law’s protection.