In a chilling revelation, police in Jharkhand’s Godda district have uncovered that a judicial magistrate orchestrated the murder attempt on his own wife. The shocking incident unfolded near Gandhi Gram Flyover on January 17, when Vandana Kumari, wife of Bihar-based magistrate Santosh Kumar Sah, was ambushed by bike-borne assailants.
Vandana had just finished testifying at Godda Court and was heading back to her parental home when the attackers unleashed a barrage of bullets. She sustained two gunshot wounds and was rushed to Pathargama Community Health Center before being referred to Godda Sadar Hospital and later to Bhagalpur for advanced treatment.
Godda SP Mukesh Kumar confirmed that investigations revealed deep-seated marital discord. The couple, married in 2019, saw relations sour after Santosh’s job placement. Vandana accused him of dowry harassment, demanding Rs 15 lakh, leading to a case filed in 2020. Santosh retaliated with a divorce petition.
Police probe exposed Santosh’s role in plotting the hit, offering Rs 2 lakh contract through his younger brother Subodh Kumar Sah. Three suspects—Shyam Kumar Sah, Subodh Kumar Sah, and Mohammad Arif—have been arrested from Bihar’s Bhagalpur district. Three more fugitives remain at large.
Raids yielded two motorcycles, three helmets, three masks, a country-made pistol, and empty cartridges from the crime scene, all hidden at Arif’s residence. Four shooters arrived on two bikes, with Subodh trailing on another. Technical evidence, call records, and surveillance footage are guiding the ongoing manhunt.
Santosh, stationed in Bihar’s Samastipur, was not present at the scene but faces questioning after a notice. This case underscores the dark underbelly of domestic violence masked by professional facades, prompting calls for stricter oversight on judicial personnel. As investigations deepen, the nation watches how justice unfolds for a supposed dispenser of it.