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Four-month-old Mahi was found dead in an AC cabinet in Jaipur after her mother allegedly planned the murder due to a preference for a boy.
Neha Goyal was later acquitted in court due to insufficient evidence. (Representative image)
Jaipur was shaken when a horrifying discovery was made in a multi-story home in Subhash Nagar. On August 25, 2016, four-month-old Mahi suddenly went missing from her bed in the afternoon. Her mother, Neha Goyal, noticed the baby was gone around 4 pm, hours after feeding her.
Family members searched the house, but it was Neha’s sister-in-law who eventually found Mahi’s lifeless body tucked inside an abandoned air conditioner cabinet, wrapped in a red blanket. Injuries on the baby’s neck indicated a violent act, prompting the family to immediately call the police.
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The shocking incident led authorities to question every member of the household, including current and former servants. The investigation unfolded over 13 days, revealing a dark truth behind the infant’s death that stunned the community and raised disturbing questions about societal pressures and gender biases within families.
Mother Planned The Crime Over Gender Bias
During questioning, Neha reportedly confessed that she had decided to kill Mahi on August 18, during Raksha Bandhan, because she felt her family would be incomplete without a son. The next day, she attempted to strangle her daughter but failed.
“While celebrating Raksha Bandhan, she saw other baby boys of the family. Her resolve to get rid of her four-month-old daughter, Mahi, grew stronger. The next day, on August 19, she tried to strangulate Mahi but couldn’t muster enough courage to execute her plans,” said Rajesh Kumar Meel, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Jaipur North) as quoted by The Times of India.
The failed attempt left Mahi with serious neurological problems, and she was rushed to the hospital by her grandfather and father. “Except for Neha, the entire family was worried over the health of the infant. The grandfather consulted senior doctors and stayed in the hospital,” Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Jaipur North), Meel added.
Murder Executed After Repeated Planning
Neha reportedly showed little emotional attachment to Mahi, leaving her daily care to a maid, Shantanu, who had grown very attached to the baby.
“The maid is in a state of serious shock. Shantanu was really attached to Mahi; she has been inconsolable since the murder of Mahi,” police said as quoted by The Times of India.
On August 26, taking advantage of the Krishna Janmashtami celebrations and the hustle in the house, Neha allegedly carried out her plan, killing the baby by slitting her throat.
Police found that she had researched ways to conceive a boy on her phone, searching terms like ‘home remedies for baby boy’ and ‘medicine for baby boy birth’.
Trial And Acquittal
Neha was arrested 12 days after the murder, and the knife allegedly used was recovered. However, during the trial, 33 witnesses turned hostile, and the court questioned the recovery of the weapon.
In September 2019, a district and sessions court acquitted Neha, citing insufficient evidence to convict her.
The tragic case highlighted the devastating consequences of gender bias and societal pressure, sparking conversations about the harmful expectations placed on women and the value of female life.
About the Author
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
Delhi, India, India
September 26, 2025, 08:00 IST
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