Sonam Raghuwanshi's family should prove her innocence: Meghalaya Deputy CM

Press briefing by Meghalaya Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong in Shillong

Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Prestone Tynsong, briefed media on Monday about the progress in the Raja Raghuvanshi murder probe and urged the family of prime accused Sonam to "prove her innocence".

The Uttar Pradesh Police, which arrested Sonam on Monday, said that they haven't interrogated Sonam as this matter pertains to Meghalaya Police.  Sonam will be handed over to the Meghalaya Police today.

Uttar Pradesh Additional Director General (ADG) of Law and Order, Amitabh Yash, told the media that Sonam will be handed over to Meghalaya Police as soon as they reach Ghazipur.

Sonam Raghuwanshi, the wife of late Raja Raghuvanshi, was found near a dhaba on the Varanasi-Ghazipur main road. The senior police official reiterated that she had been found at a dhaba situated on the Varanasi-Ghazipur main road.

"Sonam Raghuwanshi called her family members at around 3 am and informed them that she was present at the Kashi Dhaba on Varanasi-Ghazipur main road. Sonam's family members gave this information to the Indore Police, following which they contacted Uttar Pradesh Police. Acting on this, Ghazipur Police took her to the hospital and then to the One Stop Centre in Ghazipur. Meghalaya Police was present in Indore to investigate this case. Sonam Raghuwanshi will be handed over to Meghalaya Police as soon as they reach Ghazipur. UP Police has not interrogated Sonam Raghuwanshi," the ADG law and order told ANI.

Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife, Sonam, both residents of Madhya Pradesh's Indore, had gone missing during their honeymoon in the northeastern state of Meghalaya. Raja Raghuvanshi's body was later recovered in Meghalaya on June 2.

Meanwhile, after Meghalaya Police's statement that the wife of late Raja Raghuvanshi, Sonam, has surrendered, Raja's brother, Vipul Raghuvanshi, said that they will not agree that Sonam is an accused until and unless she confesses to her crime.

However, he also said that if Sonam is involved in the case, then she should be punished. The father of Sonam Raghuwanshi, Devi Singh, has claimed that his daughter is innocent and accused the Meghalaya police and government of "formulating" stories and "lying" from the beginning.

The family members of both Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam Raghuwanshi have been demanding a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe in the matter, citing bare to no response from the Meghalaya government. Sonam's father has also accused the Meghalaya Police of "lying" and "formulating" stories.

Meanwhile, three assailants from Madhya Pradesh have also been caught in connection with the killing of Raja Raghuvanshi. This announcement was made by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.

Meghalaya DGP told ANI that 3 men were arrested, while the woman who had surrendered was identified as Sonam, the wife of late Raja Raghuvanshi.