...
...
Next Story

Domestic violence case: Navy officer’s wife convicted for husband’s murder in Goa

The husband was an aircraft handler at the Naval airbase residing at the Navy headquarters in Goa, hailed from Uttar Pradesh but was posted in Goa

Published on: Mar 10, 2026, 21:31:24 IST
By
Prefer HTon Google
Advertisement

The South Goa District Court convicted Sandhya Ramesh, the wife of an Indian Navy officer, for the murder of her husband in 2019 and sentenced her to life imprisonment.

The police built a case, that the victim and the accused used to have regular fights over his alcohol habits. (File photo)
The police built a case, that the victim and the accused used to have regular fights over his alcohol habits. (File photo)

“The accused is convicted under section 302 of the IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of ₹50,000 and in default to undergo imprisonment of six months,” Judge Ram S Prabhudessai said.

Ramesh, who was 32 at the time of the incident, was arrested for the alleged murder of her husband Kaushalendra Pratap Singh, a navy sailor posted at the INS Hansa Naval base, who was struck on his head with a wooden club on June 2, 2019.

According to the prosecution, on the night of the incident, which was a Saturday, Singh returned home intoxicated leading to a heated argument with his wife over his “drinking problem”. During the fight which turned violent he knocked over the air cooler, toppled a cupboard, destroyed things around the house and hit her with a piece of wood.

Also Read:HC acquits Ram Rahim in ’02 journalist murder case

Singh, an aircraft handler at the Naval airbase residing at the Navy headquarters in Goa, hailed from Uttar Pradesh but was posted in Goa.

The police built a case, that the victim and the accused used to have regular fights over his alcohol habits during which he would often turn violent and beat his wife and daughter in what was termed as sustained domestic abuse.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gerard de Souza

Gerard de Souza is a Special Correspondent based in Goa and has been reporting on and about issues concerning the state and the wider western coast of India for over 18 years. His wide range of stories covers politics, crime, environment and tourism-related concerns emerging from India’s smallest state. Born and brought up in Goa, he has a deep understanding of the former Portuguese enclave’s evolution from a laidback collection of idyllic villages that first drew flower power generation of counter culture enthusiasts to its shores to one that has become synonymous in Indian popular culture with an aspirational holiday, seeing the best (and worst) that holidayers have to offer. He also keenly follows criminal trials. Most notably, he covered the trial surrounding the killing of Scarlett Keeling, a British teenager found dead on Anjuna beach, and that of Danielle McLaughlin similarly killed in south Goa, among others. He authored the book ‘Crimes of Passion: When Desire Turns Deadly,’ chronicling cases of romance turning to rage and murder. A graduate of Goa University, he learnt the trade on the job and has experience on both the reporting and editorial sides of the profession. When not sniffing around for a worthy headline, he likes to spend time outdoors to help ensure his heart is always in the right place.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Notifications

Get breaking alerts directly from the newsroom

Notifications are on!You'll be notified when news breaks