Shillong Murder Case: Key Accused Remanded to Police Custody

In a significant development in the Shillong murder case, prime suspects Sonam Raghuvanshi and Raj Kushwaha have been remanded to police custody for further interrogation. The court has also placed three other co-accused in judicial custody. Investigators are delving deeper into the conspiracy surrounding the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, with new evidence emerging, including a second murder weapon found at the crime scene. The case continues to unfold as authorities seek to piece together the events leading to this tragic incident.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 20, 2025, 13:25 IST

Judicial Proceedings in Shillong Murder Case

Shillong, June 20: The main suspects, Sonam Raghuvanshi and Raj Kushwaha, have been ordered to remain in police custody for an additional two days, while three other accomplices have been placed in judicial custody for 14 days.

All five individuals involved—Sonam, Raj, Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi—were initially taken to Shillong Civil Hospital for standard medical examinations before appearing in front of the session court judge.

The Judicial Magistrate (first class), DKK Mihsil, approved the police's request for custody of Sonam and Raj, while the remaining accused were sent to judicial custody.

Prosecution attorney T. Chanda confirmed, "Sonam Raghuvanshi and Raj Kushwaha have been remanded to two days of police custody, while the other three have been placed in judicial custody for 14 days."

Authorities sought extended custody for the primary suspects due to inconsistencies in their statements during questioning.

Investigators believe there are unresolved issues that require further interrogation to fully understand the conspiracy surrounding the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi.

The victim was allegedly killed by the suspects, with the plot reportedly orchestrated by Sonam and her supposed lover, Raj, prior to her marriage to Raja on May 11 in Indore.

On June 18, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Meghalaya Police discovered a second murder weapon—a machete with a steel handle—at Weisawdong Falls, the location where Raja's dismembered body was found on June 2.

This evidence was collected by the State Disaster Response Force after the suspects guided investigators to the site during a reconstruction of the crime scene.

During this exercise, the four accused—Sonam Raghuvanshi, the widow of Raja, along with Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi—disclosed that they used two machetes to strike Raja on the head three times, resulting in his death.