Meghalaya honeymoon murder case: Police file 790-page chargesheet, say ‘Raja was killed in Sonam’s presence’

Meghalaya honeymoon murder case

The East Khasi Hills police in Meghalaya filed a 790-page chargesheet in the murder of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi. The chargesheet alleges that his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, and her lover, Raj Kushwaha, conspired to kill Raja during their honeymoon. The murder, carried out by hired assailants, took place in Sonam's presence near the Wei Sawdong Falls.

According to a report by The Indian Express, the chargesheet, filed before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Sohra Sub-Division Court, details the conspiracy behind and the execution of the murder of the 29-year-old.

Five people accused in the case were arrested by Meghalaya Police from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh on June 8 and June 9, days after Raja’s body had been recovered from a gorge below Wei Sawdong falls in Sohra, the report added.

This came after the couple went “missing” on May 23 while travelling in the area as part of their honeymoon. It was initially treated as a missing persons case, but turned into a murder investigation after Raja’s body was discovered.

The police were quoted by The Indian Express as saying that the probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) revealed that Sonam was in a relationship with Raj, who allegedly conspired with her and hired three assailants to murder Raja.

“The murder was executed by Aakash Singh Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan and Aanand Kurmi in the presence of Sonam Raghuvanshi,” an official note by the police was quoted by The Indian Express as saying.

Police later arrested three more accused — Lokendra Tomar, Balla Ahirwar and Shilom James — for allegedly destroying evidence. As per the report, a supplementary chargesheet will be filed once additional forensic reports are received.

The accused have been charged under Sections 103(1), 238(a), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Indian Justice Code, 2023.

East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem was quoted as saying: “A 790-page chargesheet against the arrested accused, along with substantial material evidence and enclosures, has been filed in court.”

The police investigation revealed that Raja was first struck with a machete by Vishal Singh Chauhan, one of three hitmen hired for the crime.

“After conducting a thorough investigation, including collecting and collating all evidences, it is conclusively (proven) that Smti Sonam Raja Raghuvanshi was in a relationship with Shri Raj Kushwaha and a criminal conspiracy was hatched by Raj Kushwaha along with Sonam and the three assailants to murder Raja Raghuvanshi under the pretext of a honeymoon to Sohra,” the statement by Meghalaya Police was quoted by The Indian Express.

The legal team for the accused, as per the report, has claimed they have not yet been intimated on the chargesheet being filed. “We are yet to get notice on the chargesheet. We cannot comment on the allegations,” a senior member of the defence team was quoted by The Indian Express as saying.