Indore, June 16: The Raja Raghuvanshi murder case has turned a group of gully boys with no criminal record and a humble background into suspected murderers.
With the breadwinner in jail, the family of Raj Kushwaha — the alleged lover of Sonam Raghuvanshi — is struggling to pay the rent.
This reporter visited the Kushwaha house at Nand Bagh in Indore.
The building’s decent exterior is deceiving. It has a chawl-like atmosphere with multiple tenants living in rooms that are nothing more than pigeon coops. The Kushwaha family of five lives in one room for a monthly rent of Rs 2,500. The damp air adds to the sombre ambience.
Raj’s mother, Chunni Bai, started crying the moment she saw the journalist. His two sisters looked exhausted from the crying and worrying. The third sister lives in the family’s ancestral village in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur distrct.
“He cannot do this. He cannot kill anyone,” said the mother.
Raj’s father, Ram Nahar Kushwaha, was diagnosed with a brain tumour about nine years ago. He had to drop out of school. He started working in a clothes shop and supported the family and the sisters’ education. The father passed away in 2020.
“With Raj gone, who will pay for their education? Who will pay the rent,” Chunni Bai kept saying in a delirium.
Raj was arrested at the residence of Vishal Chauhan on June 8. His two-wheeler is still parked outside Vishal’s house.
No criminal record, no bad habits
Anand Kurmi, Akash Rajput and Vishal — the three other accused in the Raja murder case — have no criminal record. Akash is in college. Anand and Vikash are unemployed.
Anand lives with his family in a rented house, which is owned by a distant aunt, Vimala Patel. Originally a resident of Bina, the family shifted to Nand Bagh about four years back. Anand’s father was a construction worker, but he had to quit the job due to health problems.
Anand works as a delivery boy, and his mother earns a measly amount by making papad.
Vishal’s father too has a humble job, and his mother is a tailor. The financial condition of Akash’s house is similar — trying hard to survive.
At present, the houses of the three youths in Gali No. 18 at Nand Bagh are locked as the families have shifted to their respective villages after the arrest.
The neighbours said they never saw the boys fight with anyone. They were like any other youth of that age, playing cricket on Sundays and hanging out with friends.
A scapegoat or a mastermind?
If the allegations against Raj are true, then he must be a deceptive and deceitful person who managed hawala money and masterminded a murder.
But if what Raj’s family is saying is true, then he is a scapegoat in a bigger game plan of the influential and affluent class.
The police have not found Raja’s second phone, and Sonam remains silent every time she is asked about it.
What’s next
After the completion of the remand of the accused, they will be presented in the court. According to Indore-based Advocate Shreya Joshi, it is worth noting here that not only murder, but also attempt to murder is a non-bailable offence. Apart from this, various sections will be slapped on the accused for hiding and destroying evidence, misleading the police and inciting murder.
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