Mother of Accused in Meghalaya Murder Case Claims Son's Innocence
Claims of Innocence Amid Arrests
Following the arrest of four individuals in connection with the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi in Meghalaya, Raj Kushwaha's mother has come forward to assert that her son is being wrongfully accused and maintains his innocence.
In an interview, she expressed her belief in her son's character, stating, "He is only 20 years old and is my everything. He worked at Sonam's brother's factory and is being falsely implicated. I urge the authorities to clear his name; he is innocent."
Family's Plea for Justice
Raj Kushwaha's sister also defended him, insisting, "My brother is innocent and did not leave his workplace. You can verify this with his colleagues. I just want him to be released; he had no part in the murder. Both my brothers, Vicky and Raj, would never commit such an act."
Details of the Investigation
On Tuesday, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rajesh Dandotiya provided updates on the case, confirming that four suspects have been apprehended: Sonam Raghuvanshi, Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Raj Singh Kushwaha. The DCP noted that these individuals would be transported to Shillong after completing the necessary transit remand procedures.
DCP Dandotiya stated, "All four suspects are currently held at the Indore Police Commissionerate. The Shillong Police have conducted interrogations. The transit remand for three of the suspects was secured yesterday, and the fourth was arrested today. They will be taken to Shillong for further questioning."
Circumstances Surrounding the Murder
Authorities have identified Sonam Raghuvanshi and Raj Kushwaha as the primary suspects in the case. The Meghalaya Police transported Sonam to a police station in Patna, Bihar, after obtaining a three-day transit remand. This follows the recovery of Raja Raghuvanshi's body during what was supposed to be a honeymoon trip, allegedly orchestrated by contract killers hired by his wife.
A senior police official from Uttar Pradesh reported that Sonam was located near a roadside eatery on the Varanasi-Ghazipur highway and was subsequently placed in protective custody at a local center. Following the arrival of the Meghalaya Police, she underwent a medical examination at a district hospital.
Ongoing Investigations
Meghalaya's Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong confirmed the arrests and mentioned that authorities are still pursuing one additional suspect. He noted that Sonam had voluntarily surrendered to the police, and all apprehended individuals would be taken to Shillong for further investigation.
The Chief of the Meghalaya Special Investigation Team (SIT), Herbert Pyniaid Kharkongor, revealed that the post-mortem report indicated Raja Raghuvanshi suffered two head injuries. Raja and Sonam, both from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, had gone missing during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, where Raja's body was later discovered.