The Raja Raghuvanshi murder case continues to unfold in Meghalaya, with recent court proceedings extending the legal custody of key suspects. Sonam Raghuvanshi, Raja's wife, and her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha, have had their police custody extended by a Meghalaya court. Meanwhile, the three hitmen accused of carrying out the murder have been remanded to 14-day judicial custody.
Raja Raghuvanshi, an Indore-based businessman, was murdered during his honeymoon in Meghalaya. He and Sonam were reported missing on May 23, and Raja's body was discovered on June 2 in a deep gorge near Weisawdong Falls in Cherrapunji. The investigation revealed a conspiracy allegedly led by Sonam and her boyfriend, Raj Kushwaha, who hired three hitmen – Vishal Chauhan, Anand Kurmi, and Akash Rajput – to kill Raja.
According to police reports, Sonam "signalled" her accomplices to commit the murder. During a reconstruction of the crime scene, police recovered another machete used in the murder near Weisawdong waterfall, close to the gorge where Raja's body was found. The post-mortem revealed that Raja died from injuries inflicted by a sharp weapon. Vishal Chauhan allegedly made the first "lethal blow" to Raja's head, followed by Anand, and finally Akash, who struck the final murderous assault. Sonam reportedly moved away after seeing blood, while the three attackers threw Raja's body into the gorge.
The Meghalaya Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) is exploring all possible angles in the case, including a potential financial motive. The SIT visited Indore to question Sonam's family and inspected Raj Kushwaha's residence. They also examined a flat in Indore where Sonam allegedly stayed secretly after returning from Meghalaya following the murder.
Investigations have revealed that Sonam was in constant contact with Raj Kushwaha, saved in her phone as "Sanjay Verma," before and after her marriage to Raja. Call records show that Sonam and "Sanjay Verma" exchanged over 200 calls within 39 days. The police believe Sonam used the fake name to avoid suspicion.
The family of Raj Kushwaha is in shock and disbelief over his alleged involvement in the murder. Raj's grandmother died of a heart attack after learning of his arrest. According to family members, she was deeply affected by the news and had stopped eating and remained withdrawn for days.
As the investigation progresses, the Meghalaya Police are also looking into the missing jewelry belonging to Raja Raghuvanshi. Sonam reportedly told investigators that she had kept the jewelry in a "particular place," which the police are investigating. The police are also seeking to find Sonam's missing phones.
The case has garnered significant attention, with new details emerging daily. A recent video surfaced showing Raja Raghuvanshi leaving his Indore residence for his honeymoon in Meghalaya. The investigation is ongoing, and the Meghalaya Police are working to gather all evidence and tie up any loose ends.
