‘Raja was killed in front of Sonam’: Chargesheet filed in Meghalaya honeymoon murder case

Five people accused in the case, including Sonam and Raj, were arrested by Meghalaya Police from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh on June 8 and June 9, days after Raja’s body had been recovered from a gorge below Wei Sawdong falls in Sohra. This came after widespread search operations were initiated after the couple went “missing” on May 23 while travelling in the area as part of their honeymoon. It was initially treated as a missing persons case, but turned into a murder investigation after Raja’s body was found with two sharp cuts on his head.

According to police, the probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) revealed that Sonam was in a relationship with Raj, who allegedly conspired with her and hired three assailants to murder Raja. “The murder was executed by Aakash Singh Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan and Aanand Kurmi in the presence of Sonam Raghuvanshi,” the police said in their official note.

Police later arrested three more accused — Lokendra Tomar, Balla Ahirwar and Shilom James — for allegedly destroying evidence. A supplementary chargesheet will be filed once additional forensic reports are received.

The accused have been charged under Sections 103(1), 238(a), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Indian Justice Code, 2023.

East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said, “A 790-page chargesheet against the arrested accused, along with substantial material evidence and enclosures, has been filed in court.”

According to the police, Raja was first struck with a machete, locally called “dao”, by Vishal Singh Chauhan, one of three hitmen hired for the crime. Sonam was allegedly present at the time and fled the scene when her husband began to bleed and scream, returning only after he had died from the multiple blows inflicted upon him. The second machete was discovered in the same gorge where Raja’s body was dumped. A white shirt, believed to belong to Akash Rajput and worn during the murder, was also found in the gorge.

The police said they also have evidence in the form of the recovered murder weapon, bloody clothing, CCTV footage of the couple, and testimonies of multiple people, including a guide who saw the accused together.

The police said they recovered Sonam’s mangalsutra and a toe ring from the hotel where they had left their bags, which they said raised suspicions.

“After conducting a thorough investigation, including collecting and collating all evidences, it is conclusively (proven) that Smti Sonam Raja Raghuvanshi was in a relationship with Shri Raj Kushwaha and a criminal conspiracy was hatched by Raj Kushwaha along with Sonam and the three assailants to murder Raja Raghuvanshi under the pretext of a honeymoon to Sohra,” the Meghalaya Police statement said.

The legal team for the accused have claimed they have not yet been intimated on the chargesheet being filed. “We are yet to get notice on the chargesheet. We cannot comment on the allegations,” said a senior member of the defence team.