Shillong, June 24: The question on whether, Lokendra Tomar, the landlord of the flat in Indore where the murder accused Sonam Raghuvanshi stayed for days, had any relationship with Sonam, remains unanswered
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem termed the question as irrelevant.
The last arrest by the police was that of Tomar from Gwalior following the arrest of property dealer Silome James and the security guard of the flat.
What forced Tomar, Silome and the security guard to destroy evidence unless they have something to hide, is yet to be revealed.
A question also remains on the delayed action by the police in searching the Indore flat which gave enough time for the accused Tomar and two others to destroy the evidence.
Even before a splinter group of Meghalaya SIT was sent to Indore, there were media reports from Indore that Sonam had stayed at the Indore flat for many days since May 28.
But the action from the police came late.
When asked about this, the SP did not agree to the delay but said only further interrogations of the accused revealed the matter.
The SP said that the fact that Sonam was staying in the flat at Gwalior only came to light after interrogation by the SIT.
However, when the police team went there on June 10, they found that the place was empty, he said.
Syiem said police have evidence of the involvement of three arrested persons for destroying evidences vital to the murder case.
“We have proofs of them taking the box out – whereby the gold of Sonam and chain of Raja were in there,” he said.
According to the SP, the three arrested are not involved in the murder ‘perse’⁹ but are involved in destroying vital evidences.
“The only possible reason I could see now is greed. Probably these people got greedy as accused got arrested, must have thought let us check what is there, must be there is cash and all that, not knowing that police will trace the whole thing back. Later realising that people will come and will be able to ascertain, these three people took off and from their actions, it shows that they are guilty and culpable”, the SP claimed.
The police have taken the debris of the burnt materials from Indore. Forensic team from Madhya Pradesh had come and we are sending them for forensic and we will ascertain what it is. Probably it could be a phone. There is no sign of jewellery,” Syiem said.
“The three accused will be brought to Shillong on Thursday for further interrogation. We have sought for seven days transit remand. All the accused persons will be produced before the court day after tomorrow” Syiem said.
