Shillong: The Meghalaya Police has submitted a chargesheet in the high-profile murder of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, naming his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi, her partner Raj Kushwaha, and three others as accused.

The 790-page chargesheet has been filed before the Judicial Magistrate First Class in Sohra Sub-Division, according to officials.

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Who has been charged?

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) stated that Sonam, Raj, along with Akash Rajput, Anand Kurmi, and Vishal Singh Chauhan, were directly linked to the killing that took place on 23 May during Sonam’s honeymoon with her husband. All five are currently in judicial custody.

The police said the accused have been booked under Section 103 (I) for murder, Section 238 (a) for disappearance of evidence, and Section 61 (2) for criminal conspiracy as per the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem confirmed that a supplementary chargesheet will be filed later against three additional suspects once more forensic results are received.

He identified the three as property dealer Silome James, building owner Lokendra Tomar, at whose premises Sonam allegedly took shelter after the crime, and security guard Balbir Ahirbar. The trio, earlier arrested for destroying and concealing evidence, are currently out on bail.

How did the case unfold?

What began as a missing persons case quickly turned into a murder probe. Raja and Sonam, who married on 11 May, were reported missing while on honeymoon in Meghalaya.

On 23 May, shortly after checking out from a homestay in Nongriat village, the couple disappeared. On 2 June, Raja’s body was discovered.

Sonam resurfaced days later, on 8 June, in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur, where she surrendered at Nandganj police station. On 11 June, she confessed to killing her husband.

Police investigations revealed that Sonam had been in a long-term relationship with Raj, who worked as an accountant in her family’s furniture sheet business, before her marriage to Raja.

Who else was arrested?

Besides Sonam and Raj, the police arrested Akash, Vishal, and Anand from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Raj was later taken into custody as the investigation progressed.

What was the family’s response?

Following her arrest, Sonam’s brother Govind declared that the family had cut all ties with her. He expressed support for Raja’s grieving relatives and assured them of his solidarity in their pursuit of justice.

(Agency inputs)