The incident occurred last night in southwest Delhi's Chhawla area when Nityanand was having alcohol and his wife, Sunita (40), rebuked him for this, police said.
Nityanand was given compulsory retirement from the Border Security Force (BSF) around 10 years ago for his alcoholism, they said.
Enrage with his wife's interruption, he shot at her wounding her in the stomach. The sound of gunshots woke up the couple's two children, who were sleeping in the other room, said a senior police officer.
His wife was rushed to a hospital by the neighbours and later shifted to AIIMS, where her condition was stated to be critical.
The couple's 15-year-old daughter told police that her father was a heavy drinker and often used to beat her mother, the official said.
The accused told police that he suspected his wife of infidelity and used to get into arguments with her over trivial issues, he added.
However, the woman tolerated everything in their 18- year-old marriage.
Sunita's condition is stated to be critical and her statement hasn't been recorded yet, said the officer.
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