The Meghalaya Police filed a 790-page chargesheet in connection with the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case on Saturday. The lengthy document was submitted to the Shillong court and names eight accused, including his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi and her alleged partner Raj Kushwaha. The charges include murder, disappearance of evidence, and criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Raja Raghuvanshi was murdered while honeymooning in the northeastern state earlier this year — triggering a nationwide manhunt for his killers. The police investigation revealed that the murder was meticulously planned, with Sonam Raghuvanshi and Raj Kushwaha hiring three assailants to murder her husband during the trip. Officials revealed that the duo had made three unsuccessful attempts to kill Raja before they succeeded.
According to reports citing the chargesheet, Sonam had begun plotting ways to eliminate her husband within days of their marriage. Police allege that she and Kushwaha had continued their relationship despite the nuptials on May 11. They eventually decided to kill Raja under the pretext of a honeymoon trip. The plan was eventually put into motion once they reached Shillong on May 20, following three failed attempts at murder. Three people allegedly hired by Kushwaha had attacked him with machetes near Wei Sawdong Falls on May 23. Sonam was present at the scene. His body was later dumped into a nearby gorge.
What happened in Shillong?
Newly married Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi had reached Meghalaya for their honeymoon on May 21. The couple travelled to Sohra via Shillong and were reported missing a few days later. A massive search operation was subsequently launched ad eventually unearthed the body of Raja from a deep gorge near the famous Wei Sawdong falls in Sohra on June 2.
Investigators had eventually unearthed the relationship between Sonam and Raj Kushwaha — with the SIT arresting the duo as well as three alleged assailants from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Raja is believed to have been murdered by three friend of Kushwaha — Vishal Singh Chauhan, Akash Singh Rajput, Anand Kurmi — in the presence of Sonam. Three more accused (Lokendra Tomar, Balla Ahirwar, and Shilom James) were later arrested from Gwalior, Shadora and Dewas for their alleged role in destroying evidence.
Calls for death penalty
The Raghuvanshi family has called for severe punishment of the accused — including the death penalty. The brother of the victim also indicated that he would travel to Shillong and reach the chargesheet on Monday to glean additional details.
“Meghalaya police filed 790-page chargesheet in the case. Sonam and all the others accused should face severe punishment. I demand that Sonam, Raj Kushwaha, and all the others accused get a death sentence. Earlier, Govind (Sonam’s brother) assured us that he would be there to provide justice for Raja Raghuvanshi, but he is not answering my call now, he deceived us like his sister. He lied to us and now he is supporting his family. He is still communicating with Sonam in jail…I will visit Meghalaya on Monday and appeal to get the chargesheet,” Vipin Raghuvanshi told ANI.
(With inputs from agencies)