- By Chetna Shree
- Mon, 16 Jun 2025 02:45 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Meghalaya Murder Case: The murder of an Indore businessman, Raja Raghuvanshi, plotted by his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, was not done solely for money. Raja was killed in Shillong by three friends of Sonam's lover, Raj Kushwaha. Fresh details have surfaced which overturn the initial findings and suggest that the murder was done by the friends as a favour and not for money.
The Superintendent of Police, Vivek Syiem, told PTI, “The three young people, Vishal, Akash and Anand, were friends, and one of them is a cousin of Raj.” It was not a typical contract killing but a favour to their friend, Raj, the police official added.
The Meghalaya Police said that Raj Kushwaha, the lover of Sonam Raghuvanshi, was the mastermind behind the honeymoon murder of Raja Raghuvanshi. Sonam was the co-conspirator, and the three friends were believed to be hired killers, but they were friends of Raj Kushwaha. Only Rs 50,000 was given by Raj to the three killers.
PLAN TO FAKE SONAM’S DEATH
The plan to murder Raja Raghuvanshi started in February in Indore. They thought of murdering a random woman, burning it and passing it off as Sonam to get more time to escape. The plan of murdering Raja Raghuvanshi started before the marriage. According to their plan, the couple went on honeymoon to Meghalaya on May 20, and from May 23, they went missing. Raja’s body was found in a deep gorge on June 2, and Sonam surrendered to the police on June 9. Raj Kushwaha and three other killers were also arrested. Sonam’s lover Raj Kushwaha was the mastermind and plotted the murder, the police said.
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PLAN EXECUTION IN SOHRA
Raja and his wife Sonam decided to visit Guwahati before heading on their honeymoon to Meghalaya. The killers arrived before the couple and planned to kill Raja in Guwahati. When the plan did not materialise, the accused planned to murder him in Meghalaya. They grouped at Weisawdong Falls, attacked Raja, killed and threw him in a deep gorge. Sonam was present at the murder spot, according to the police. They thought that Raja’s body wouldn’t be discovered as the location was remote. Sonam took a taxi and then changed to various buses to not being discovered. Though she was found in Ghazipur on June 9 and other killers were also arrested.
PROBE UNDERWAY
Investigations are underway, and all five accused, Sonam, Raj, Vishal, Akash and Anand, were remanded to eight days of police custody. The police officials are recording the statements and gathering stronger evidence about the honeymoon murder case.
“We are questioning them. We will gather more evidence and reconstruct the crime scene,” the police official said. We are confident of filing a charge sheet within 90 days, he added.