Court frames charges against Sonam, 5 others in Raghuvanshi murder case

Shillong: The district and sessions court has formally framed charges against five individuals accused in the murder of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi. The incident occurred while Raghuvanshi was on a honeymoon trip with his wife, Sonam, in Sohra (Cherrapunjee) in May this year.The charges have been brought against the prime accused, Sonam, her alleged accomplice Raj Kushwaha, and three others — Vishal Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi — who were reportedly hired from Madhya Pradesh to execute the crime on May 26.All accused were present in court with their legal representatives and have denied the allegations. The court has framed charges under sections 103(1) (murder), 238(a) (disappearance of evidence), and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita.The SIT of the Meghalaya Police retrieved Raja’s body from a deep gorge at Arliang Riat Kunongrim, Umblai, near the Wei Sawdong Waterfall in Sohra on June 2. The SIT arrested Sonam, Raj, and their accomplices, submitting a chargesheet that alleges Sonam and Raj orchestrated the murder, which was carried out by Rajput, Chauhan, and Kurmi.The police are expected to submit another chargesheet against three additional suspects — Silom James, Lokendra Tomar, and Balbir Ahirbar.