Meghalaya honeymoon murder: Raj Kushwaha, 3 other accused knew each other well, says police

Sonam hired three men who allegedly killed Raga and went missing. Sonam later surfaced in UP’s Ghazipur on Sunday night where she surrendered at the Nandganj police station after Akash Rajput (19), Vishal Singh Chauhan (22), and Anand Kurmi were arrested

Raj Kushwaha, who allegedly plotted the murder of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi with the latter's wife Sonam during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, and three other men hired for committing the crime knew each other since the past, police officials said, reported the PTI.

According to the Indore police, Kushwaha, suspected to be the boyfriend of Sonam, did not travel to Meghayala and continued with his daily routine to avoid any suspicion. 

Khushwaha worked as an accountant at a furniture sheet unit owned by the family of Sonam.

After the wedding on May 11, Raja and Sonam went for their honeymoon to the northeastern state, reported PTI. 

Hours after checking out of their homestay at Nongriat village, the couple went missing on May 23. Dead body of Raja was found 20 km away from this village on June 2. 

Sonam allegedly hired three men who killed Raja and she later went missing.

Sonam then surfaced in UP’s Ghazipur on Sunday night where she surrendered at the Nandganj police station after Akash Rajput (19), Vishal Singh Chauhan (22), and Anand Kurmi were arrested from UP and Indore and Sagar towns. 

Later the prime conspirator Raj Singh Kushwaha (21) was arrested. 

Prima facie, there is reportedly no previous criminal record against all four accused, aged 20 to 25 years, in local police stations, an Indore Police official said, adding that the accused have known each other for long.

Currently all the three accused are under the transit custody of Meghalaya Police. 

The police revealed that Sonam Raghuvanshi orchestrated the murder of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon in Sohra town in Meghalaya. 

The local tourist guide alerted the police about the three men who accompanied the couple on the day they went missing. On Tuesday, this guide identified the suspect after seeing some pictures.

Albert Pde, the guide at Mawlakhiat told PTI, "I could identify one of the suspects from the photos provided by police. I am happy that the criminals are finally behind bars. We stand vindicated. Those who tried to tarnish the image of Sohra and its people as violent have now been exposed.” 

The autopsy report of Raja revealed that he was hit twice with a sharp object on his head.

"The autopsy report indicated there were two sharp cuts on the head of the deceased, one from behind and one from the front," East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem said.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) from Meghalaya awaviled a transit remand fro Sonam and they are bringing her to Shillong where she will be presented in the court. 

Earlier in the day, the Meghalaya police brought Anand Kurmi before the court and sent him on seven-day transit remand, informed Indore’s Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Dandotia.

Raj Kushwaha's mother, Chunni Devi, asserted that her son was innocent and was framed in the case. She also mentioned that Raj had cried inconsolably while attending Raja Raghuvanshi's funeral in Indore.

"My son is innocent. He has been framed. How can a 20-year-old boy commit such a big crime? He is the only breadwinner after my husband passed away," Chunni Devi told PTI.

She also informed that her son was working at the business establishment owned by Sonam's family for the past two years.

Raj's sister Suhani also objected to the reports regarding her brother being romantically involved with Sonam, emphasising that they had a connection like brother and sister.

"My brother and Sonam only shared the employee-employer relationship. He addressed Sonam as 'didi', while she called him 'bhaiya'," Suhani added.

A video went viral of Raj comforting Sonam's father, Devi Singh Raghuvanshi, who reached the house of Raja before the funeral.

On contorary, Raja's father Ashok Raghuvanshi demanded the death penalty for all culprits.

"My son died in agony. All the culprits should be hanged to set an example so that no family loses its son to such crime in future," he said.

He also alleged that Sonam murdered her husband to remove the 'Mangal Dosh' she had in her horoscope so that she could later marry her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha.

Initially Raja’s mother Uma did not believe that her daughter-in-was could kill her son but was gradually convinced by possible involvement.

"If Sonam liked another boy, why didn't she refuse to marry Raja? Why did she kill my son?" Uma asked, emphasising that Sonam planned to visit Meghalaya.

She also alleged that Sonam's family did not inform them about her affair with Raj Kushwaha before Meghalaya Police cracked the case.

Sonam's mother, Sangeeta, claimed these to be false allegations against her daughter.

"I cannot say right now what might have happened to Raja Raghuvanshi in Meghalaya?", she said and demanded a detailed investigation into the murder case.

Politicians and common people from Meghalaya have expressed unhappiness over the portrayal of the northeastern state by the media in the wake of the murder.

Raja's elder brother Vipin Raghuvanshi apologised for giving statements against the Meghalaya government.

"We did not know that Meghalaya Police were conducting a secret operation to nab Raja's killers. We had no intention of defaming the Meghalaya government. We are also grateful to the MP government for supporting us," he added. 

(With inputs from PTI)

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