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Former army man gets life term for wife’s murder

The woman’s father-in-law alleged that she and her husband, Sunil Godara, used to have regular fights because of her affair

Updated on: Mar 6, 2024, 05:20:04 IST
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Gurugram: A former army man was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his wife suspecting her of having an extra marital affair. The court of additional district and sessions judge Tarun Singal also imposed a fine of ₹61,000 on the accused and if he failed to pay the fine, he would have to face additional punishment.

The local court sentenced Sunil Godara to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of  ₹61,000 for murdering his wife. (Shutterstock)
The local court sentenced Sunil Godara to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹61,000 for murdering his wife. (Shutterstock)

According to the police, Munesh Godara, the victim, was a native of Charkhi Dadri and used to stay on rent at a society in Sector 93. Munesh was a local leader of a political party, the police said, adding that she got married to Sunil in 2001 and they have two children.

Investigators said the woman’s father-in-law had alleged that she and her husband, Sunil Godara, used to have regular fights because of her affair. However, her family members denied the allegation and alleged that her husband was harassing her for a long time.

In his police complaint, Chander Bhan, the victim’s father-in-law, alleged that she was involved with a man who is a resident of Kadarpur village, Sohna. Bhan further said that the Kadarpur resident’s wife also knew about their affair.

On the day of the murder, Sunil and Munesh had a fight over her affair, after which he fired two gunshots from his revolver at her, Bhan had said in his complaint. The incident took place on February 9, 2020.

Sunil Jakhar, the victim’s elder brother, said the suspect used to harass his sister since they got married. “On multiple occasions, she left her husband’s house and came to stay with me. She never had any affair, and this is a baseless allegation,” he said.

He said on the day she was killed she was making chappatis and talking to her younger sister, Manisha, over the phone. “Her husband, who was in an inebriated state, suddenly came into the kitchen and fired at her with his revolver. Munesh screamed and said that she had been shot. Manisha then informed me about the incident. By the time I reached, she had died, and the police were present at the spot,” he said.

He also said Munesh had tried to kill herself after she was beaten up and locked inside the house by Sunil in 2013. An FIR was registered for conspiracy for murder based on his complaint at Sector 10A police station.

The evidence and witnesses presented by the prosecution in the court proved the charges against the accused and the court on Saturday sentenced Sunil to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹61,000.

  • Leena Dhankhar
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Leena Dhankhar

    Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More