Raja Raghuvanshi Murder Case: Pistol, Ammunition Recovered From a Stream in Indore

The recovery was made following the lead provided by Silom James, one of the accused in the case

In a major development in the murder of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi in Meghalaya, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Meghalaya Police has recovered a country-made pistol, two magazines, and two rounds of .32 ammunition from a stream in Indore, Madhya Pradesh today.

The recovery was made following the lead provided by Silom James, one of the accused in the case, said East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem.

Additionally, Rs 50,000 in cash was seized from Silom James’ personal vehicle.

According to police, he had allegedly taken the amount from a laptop bag belonging to prime accused Raj Kushwaha.

The bag was later burnt, and the laptop was reportedly dumped by the roadside but has not yet been recovered.

Raja Raghuvanshi was allegedly murdered by his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi, her lover Raj Kushwaha, and 3 accomplices on May 23 during a honeymoon trip to Meghalaya.

He was hit with two machetes by Vishal, Akash and Anand while Sonam was standing in front of Raja.

Then they threw the body into a deep gorge near Weisawdong Falls at the Riat Arliang parking lot in Umblai, Sohra.

Raja’s body was found in semi-decomposed state by the Shillong Police on June 2.

Meanwhile, Sonam was missing, but what began as a missing person case soon escalated into a homicide investigation, with Sonam emerging as the prime suspect.

A major breakthrough in the case came with the arrest of Akash Rajput on June 8. Following his interrogation, police began closing in on the main conspirators. In a dramatic turn, Sonam, who had been untraceable, suddenly surfaced in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh on June 9 and surrendered before police. Her emergence led to her immediate arrest and shed light on her suspected role in orchestrating the murder.

During interrogation, Sonam confessed that she, along with her 21-year-old alleged lover Raj Kushwaha an employee at her father’s factory conspired to kill Raja.

Police suspect that the murder was premeditated and possibly motivated by business interests and a romantic relationship between Sonam and Raj.

SP Vivek Syiem on Tuesday said, “Both Sonam and Raj run their own companies. Apparently, it appears that their relationship and desire to expand their respective businesses could have been the motive to kill Raja Raghuvanshi. Nothing beyond that has emerged so far, but the investigation is ongoing.”

So far 8 persons- Sonam Raghuvanshi, Raj Kushwaha, Vishal Chauhan, Akash Rajput, Anand Kurme, Silom James, a property dealer, Balbir Ahirbar, a security guard-cum-carpenter, and Lokendra Singh Tomar, landlord of a flat in Indore where Sonam hid after the murder, have been arrested by the police.

Silome, Balbir, and Lokendra have been found to be involved in destroying evidence related to the murder, which is a criminal offence, said SP Vivek Syiem.

Currently, Sonam and Raj are under 13-day judicial custody and Vishal, Akash and Anand are in 14 day-judicial custody.

Silome James and Balbir Ahirbar who were arrested from Indore on May 22 were produced before the court on Monday, and police have secured a 7-day transit remand for both.

Lokendra Singh Tomar was arrested on Monday and produced in court on Tuesday. Police are now seeking transit remand for him as well.

Also Read: Sonam, Raj Admit Having an Affair, Love Angle and Business May Have Driven Raja Raghuvanshi’s Murder: East Khasi Hills SP

COMMENTS