Meghalaya court docket extends Sonam, Rajs police custody by 2 days; sends 3 others to jail

Jun 19, 2025 09:03 PM IST The three males who killed the businessman – Vishal Chauhan, Anand Kurmi and Akash Thakur – have been remanded in judicial custody for 14 days GUWAHATI: A Shillong court docket on Thursday prolonged the police custody of Sonam Raghuvanshi and her alleged boyfriend, Raj Kushwaha, by two extra days on a request of the police staff investigating the homicide of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi final month, the general public prosecutor mentioned. Ghazipur: Sonam Raghuvanshi was arrested in reference to the homicide of her husband throughout their honeymoon in Meghalaya. (PTI FILE) The three males who killed the businessman – Vishal Chauhan, Anand Kurmi and Akash Thakur – have been remanded in judicial custody for 14 days, public prosecutor T Chanda advised reporters outdoors the court docket advanced in Shillong. Chanda mentioned the 5 have been produced earlier than the periods court docket on Thursday night on expiry of their eight-day police remand. They have been taken to a neighborhood authorities hospital for a medical checkup earlier than being produced earlier than the choose. The 5 have been arrested in reference to the homicide of 29-year-old Raja Raghuvanshi whose physique was present in a gorge close to Weisawdong Falls on June 2, days after he and his spouse 24-year-old spouse Sonam went lacking on May 23 throughout their honeymoon in Sohra. The Meghalaya Special Investigation Team (SIT) introduced the accused, together with Sonam Raghuvanshi for the recreation of the crime at Wei Sawdong Falls, Cherrapunji, in East Khasi Hills on Tuesday (ANI) A search continued for Sonam, who turned up in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur, within the early hours of June 9 and surrendered. Sonam’s alleged boyfriend Raj Kushwaha and the three contract killers have been additionally arrested within the case. On Tuesday, investigators took the 5 suspects to the placement 50km from Shillong the place Raja Raghuvanshi was killed to recreate the crime. During the train, it was revealed that Vishal, Anand and Anand had attacked Raja with two machetes, and never one as believed earlier. The machete, which has a metal deal with, was recovered from the gorge close to the spot the place Raja’s physique was discovered on June 2, police mentioned. East Khasi Hills superintendent (SP) Vivek Syiem on Wednesday mentioned that the sufferer sustained three blows –– the primary by Chauhan, then Kurmi and the final by Thakur. According to the state police, the sufferer’s spouse Sonam has additionally admitted her complicity within the homicide. “The whole thing (conspiracy) had happened in Indore. The plan was hatched in February just before her marriage to Raja and the mastermind of this was Raj and Sonam played along with the plan and was a part and partner,” Syiem advised reporters on June 13. According to the police, Raja and Sonam visited Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati on May 20 whereas the three killers had reached town on May 19. When their plan to kill Raja in Guwahati couldn’t materialise, they deliberate to go to Shillong after which Sohra, police mentioned. “Then they met in Nongriat (near Sohra), returned together and proceeded towards Weisawdong Falls. In the parking lot of the Falls, the three assailants hacked Raja on May 23. Sonam was present at the scene,” mentioned the SP. While the police initially suspected that it was contract killing, the interrogation revealed that the killers plotted to kill Raja as a favour to Raj.