SHILLONG: In a significant development, a court in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district has officially framed charges against five individuals implicated in the murder of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi. Raghuvanshi was tragically killed by alleged hired assailants during his honeymoon trip to Sohra in May. The five accused, identified as Sonam Raghuvanshi (the victim’s wife), her alleged boyfriend Raj Kushwaha, and three alleged hitmen – Vishal Singh Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi – are facing charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including murder, disappearance of evidence, and criminal conspiracy.
All five accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges when presented before the sessions judge. East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, Vivek Syiem, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating that the police and prosecution are confident in the evidence presented and that the case will now move towards a full trial. The investigation, spearheaded by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), has compiled a comprehensive 790-page chargesheet, including substantial forensic, digital, and material evidence, such as CCTV footage, call records, and GPS data. The SIT’s findings indicate a conspiracy orchestrated by Sonam Raghuvanshi and Raj Kushwaha, who allegedly hired the other three individuals from Madhya Pradesh to carry out the murder while the couple was on their honeymoon. Raja Raghuvanshi was killed on May 23, 2025, near Wei Sawdong Falls, and his body was discovered a week later in a deep gorge, prompting a large-scale, multi-agency investigation.