Sonam and her boyfriend Raj get 2 more days in police custody; 3 hired killers sent to 14-day judicial remand in chilling Meghalaya murder plot.
SHILLONG: Today, on June 19, A local court in Shillong has extended the police custody of Sonam Raghuvanshi and her boyfriend Raj Kushwaha by two more days in the shocking murder case of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi.
Meanwhile, the court has sent the three contract killers allegedly involved in the murder to 14-day judicial custody.
According to the police, the case began when Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife Sonam went “missing” during their honeymoon in the scenic Sohra (Cherrapunji) area of Meghalaya on May 23.
After days of search operations, Raja’s body was discovered on June 2 at the bottom of a deep gorge. The body was in a highly decomposed state, making initial identification difficult.
Police later found that the murder was not accidental, but a well-planned conspiracy. Investigators revealed that Sonam, along with her boyfriend Raj Kushwaha, allegedly conspired to eliminate Raja.
The plan was executed with the help of three contract killers – Akash Rajput (19), Vishal Singh Chauhan (22), and Raj Singh Kushwaha (21) – who were later arrested from various locations in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Following the arrests, Sonam surrendered herself to the police in connection with the case. Police sources stated that the investigation pointed to a premeditated murder.
The arrested individuals were brought before the court, and while the three contract killers were remanded to 14-day judicial custody, Sonam and Raj were kept in police custody for further interrogation.
a senior police officer involved in the case said,
“This was a planned murder. We have evidence that suggests the involvement of all the accused. They were in contact over phone and messages even before the incident,”
The police believe the motive behind the murder was to gain control over Raja’s wealth and business, and that the relationship between Sonam and Raj was kept hidden from the victim.
the officer added,
“The accused lured the businessman to a remote location and pushed him into a gorge. We are verifying all the technical and forensic evidence,”
Sources confirmed that more details are emerging as police continue to interrogate the accused.
the investigating officer said,
“We are looking into the financial transactions and communication records to establish a clear timeline and motive,”
The court’s extension of police custody for Sonam and Raj allows the authorities more time to dig deeper into the conspiracy and gather additional evidence. Meanwhile, the three contract killers will remain in judicial custody for two weeks as the probe continues.
The shocking nature of the crime, combined with the betrayal by a close family member, has drawn public attention across the country.
Police have assured that they will file a comprehensive chargesheet soon.
officials said,
“Justice will be delivered. We are ensuring that no detail is missed,”
Background Of the Case
The horrifying case began when Raja and his wife Sonam went missing during their honeymoon trip to Sohra in Meghalaya on May 23.
On June 2, Raja’s body was tragically discovered in a deep gorge. Initial investigations pointed toward a premeditated conspiracy involving Sonam and her close associates.
On June 11, in a significant development, a Shillong court ordered that Sonam Raghuvanshi and her four associates be kept in police custody for eight days.
This came after the Meghalaya Police brought Sonam from Uttar Pradesh late Tuesday night under transit remand. Her four accomplices were brought from Madhya Pradesh to Shillong the following day.
ALSO READ: Raja Raghuvanshi’s Family Apologises to Meghalaya Govt, Slams Sonam for Defaming State
Speaking about the progress in the investigation, East Khasi Hills District Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem confirmed the development.
he said,
“Police had sought a 10-day remand of all the accused. The court granted 8 days of police custody,”
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