Meghalaya murder: Raja Raghuvanshi was killed in fourth attempt - 'Killers also wanted to ...'

Sonam and Raja

Indore-based Raja Raghuvanshi was murdered in the fourth attempt by his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi and her accomplices, including Raj Kushwaha, on May 23 near Wei Sawdong falls in Cherrapunji during the couple's honeymoon, Meghalaya police said Thursday.

According to a report by The Times of India, the earlier three attempts had failed, one in Guwahati and two in Sohra, Meghalaya.

Meghalaya's Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said in a press conference that Raja was finally killed near the Wei Sawdong falls in Cherrapunji. "They wanted to get rid of him in different places earlier. They also wanted to get rid of Raja's body somewhere in Guwahati, but it did not materialise. They wanted to eliminate him in Nongriat but they did not find a place to dispose the body, they wanted to do it between Mawlakhiat and Weisawdong when Raja went to the washroom. But it didn't fructify. They finally did it in Weisawdong," said the SP.

Sonam and Raja were married on May 11 and travelled to Guwahati to visit the Kamakhya Temple. Raj’s friends, Akash Rajput, Vishal Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi, had reached Guwahati on May 19, before the couple’s arrival. On May 23, between 2 and 2.18 pm, Raja was hacked to death near Wei Sawdong falls. “All three attackers took turns hitting him,” SP Syiem said.

Akash later changed his bloodstained shirt and wore the raincoat Sonam had been wearing. According to the Meghalaya police, Sonam confessed to being part of the plot but blamed Raj for the planning. She allegedly helped carry Raja’s body to a gorge, where it was found on June 2.

After going missing for days, Sonam was seen at a dhaba in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, on June 9 and was arrested and brought back to Shillong.

All five accused have been sent to eight days of police custody. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is questioning them separately and together to get a clear picture of the crime. Call records show Sonam was in constant touch with Raj after her marriage. Between May 16 and 23, there were at least 30 calls and many late-night chats. Surveillance reports suggest the planning began as early as May 15, when Sonam met Raj at a café in Indore, TOI reported.