Meghalaya honeymoon murder case: Raja Raghuvanshi’s family demands death penalty for wife Sonam, others

After the Meghalaya Police filed a chargesheet in the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case, his family in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore sought death penalty for the prime accused and his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi, her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha and three hired hitmen.

Speaking to reporters, Raja’s brother Vipin Raghuvanshi said that Sonam, Kushwaha and other accused should receive heavy punishment. “Our only demand is that all five accused, including Sonam, Raj Kushwaha and others, receive death penalty,” he said.

Honeymoon murder: Meghalaya HC grants bail to prime accused Sonam Raghuvanshi

Meghalaya Police on Saturday filed a 790-page chargesheet in the Sohra sub-district court against five accused, including Akash Singh Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan and Anand Kurmi, who was allegedly hired to kill Raja, a businessman from Indore, during his honeymoon with Sonam in the Northeastern State in May.

The five accused were charged under Sections 103(1) (murder), 238(a) (causing disappearance of evidence) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said that an additional chargesheet would be filed against three other men – Lokendra Tomar, Balvir Ahirwar alias Balla and Silome James – who were later arrested in Madhya Pradesh for allegedly destroying evidence.

I am satisfied with the research: family

Mr. Vipin Raghuvanshi said that he is yet to see the charge sheet but expressed satisfaction with the Meghalaya Police’s investigation into the incident. “I have not read the charge sheet yet. I will go to Shillong on Monday and file an appeal to get the charge sheet,” he said.

However, Sonam’s brother accused Govind of “betraying” the victim’s family. “He had earlier said that he would get justice for Raja but now he is helping Sonam and other accused in the case,” Mr. Vipin said.

Raja and Sonam had reached Shillong on May 21 for their honeymoon, but were reportedly staying at a homestay in Sohra on May 26. After days of extensive searches involving various agencies and local residents, Raja’s body was recovered from a deep gorge near Weisawdong Falls on June 2.

On June 8 and 9, all the five main accused, including Sonam, who was initially presumed missing, were arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Meghalaya Police in parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

According to the police, the three hitmen had carried out the murder in front of Sonam, who was in a relationship with Kushwaha, and the five accused had conspired to eliminate Raja during his honeymoon trip.