Meghalaya Police Files Charges in High-Profile Raja Raghuvanshi Murder Case
In a major development, Meghalaya Police has officially filed a chargesheet in the shocking murder case of Raja Raghuvanshi, a businessman from Indore. The chargesheet names his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, her lover Raj Kushwaha, and three other people involved in the crime.
The 790-page chargesheet was submitted to the Judicial Magistrate First Class in Sohra, part of Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district. This case, which grabbed national headlines earlier this year, involves a brutal murder that took place during the couple’s honeymoon.
All five accused are now in judicial custody, meaning they are in jail as the legal process continues. The police have charged Sonam, Raj, and three others—Akash Rajput, Anand Kurmi, and Vishal Singh Chauhan—for their role in the murder, which happened on May 23 while the couple was on holiday.
The accused face serious charges under Indian law, including murder, destruction of evidence, and criminal conspiracy.
According to East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem, more charges will be added soon. The police plan to file a supplementary chargesheet involving three more individuals—property dealer Silome James, building owner Lokendra Tomar (where Sonam stayed after the crime), and security guard Balbir Ahirbar. These men were earlier arrested for trying to hide or destroy evidence and are currently out on bail.
The case initially made headlines when Raja and Sonam, who married on May 11, disappeared during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. It was later revealed that Sonam had a relationship with Raj Kushwaha, an accountant in her family’s furniture business, even before her wedding. Despite this, the marriage went ahead, and the couple traveled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon.
Things took a dark turn on May 23, just hours after leaving a homestay in Nongriat village. The couple vanished without a trace. Raja’s body was found days later, on June 2. Meanwhile, Sonam reappeared in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur on June 8 and surrendered to police there. She admitted to killing her husband during questioning on June 11.
Police also arrested other suspects from different states, including Akash, Vishal, and Anand from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Raj, Sonam’s lover, was taken into custody later.
Sonam’s family, especially her brother Govind, has publicly distanced themselves from her, cutting all ties. Govind expressed support for Raja’s family, promising to stand with them in their fight for justice.
This case continues to unfold as authorities work to bring all those responsible to justice, with many details still emerging in this high-profile murder investigation.
