Shillong, Sept 5: Police on Friday filed a charge sheet against the five accused, including Sonam Raghuvanshi, for murdering her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi.
A supplementary charge sheet will be filed against the other three accused for destruction of evidence.
According to the charge sheet filed in the Sohra court, Raja’s wife Sonam was in a relationship with Raj Kushwaha and a criminal conspiracy was hatched by Kushwaha along with Sonam and three assailants to murder Raja under the pretext of a honeymoon to Sohra. The murder was, however, executed by Aakash Singh Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan and Aanand Kurmi in the presence of Sonam at Arliang Riat Kunongrim, Umblai near Wei Sawdong.
Police filed the charge sheet on September 5, four days before the expiry of the 90 days.
In a statement issued on Friday, East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem said that on May 21, Rajai and his wife Sonam of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, came to Shillong for their honeymoon trip and then went to Sohra.
On May 26, the couple was reportedly missing from Sohra. Accordingly, a search operation was launched immediately to find the duo.
After several days of intensive search by the Sohra police, SOT, NDRF, SDRF, trekking groups and local people from surrounding villages, a body was found on June 2, identified as that of (L) Raja Raghuvanshi from a deep gorge at Arliang Riat Kunongrim. Umblai near Wei Sawdong, Sohra. In this connection, the Sohra PS case No. 07/2025 u/s 103(1)/238(a)/309(6)/3(6) of BNS Act was registered. Taking into account the gravity of the offence, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted, consisting of Herbert Kharkongor, Superintendent of Police (City), East Khasi Hills, Bipul Das, Dy. Superintendent of Police (Crime), Simseng. A. Sangma, Dy. Superintendent of Police (Operations), Kyrmen Shabong, Dy. Superintendent of Police (City), S.I. Anthony Khongsit, Officer In Charge of the case and two sub-Inspectors from the Special Cell.
The sections are related to murder, causing disapperance of evidence, giving false information and criminal conspiracy.
Within 7 days of preliminary investigation, the five accused, including Sonam, who were involved in the murder of Raja, were traced to Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
“After conducting a thorough investigation, including collecting and collating all evidence, it is conclusively established that Smti Sonam Raghuvanshi was in a relationship with Shri Raj Kushwaha and a criminal conspiracy was hatched by Raj Kushwaha along with Sonam and the three assailants to murder Raja Raghuvanshi under the pretext of a honeymoon to Sohra. The murder was, however, executed by Shri Aakash Singh Rajput, Shri Vishal Singh Chauhan and Shri Aanand Kurmi in the presence of Smti Sonam Raghuvanshi at Arliang Riat Kunongrim, Umblai near Wei Sawdong.
The SP said on further investigation, three more accused -Lokendra Tomar, Balla Ahirwar and Shilom James from Gwalior, Shadora and Dewas, respectively, were arrested for destruction of evidence
“A 790-page charge sheet against the arrested accused, along with substantial material evidence and enclosures, has been filed in the court of the Judicial Magistrate Ist Class, Sohra Sub-Division Court today”, he said.
Sections of law charged against the accused persons are mentioned below.
Sonam Raghuvanshi (Accused-1)
103 (1)/238 (a)/61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Raj Singh Kushwaha (Accused-2): 103 (1)/238 (a)/61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Vishal Singh Chauhan (Accused-3) 103 (1) 238 (a)/ 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Aakash Singh Rajput(Accused-4): 103 (1)/238 (a)/61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Aanand Kurmi (Accused-5) 103 (1) 238 (a)/61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The police said a supplementary charge sheet will be submitted against the three other accused- James, Tomar & Ahirwar- on receipt of additional forensic reports.
