SIT files charges against Sonam, 4 others in Raghuvanshi murder

Shillong: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Meghalaya Police on Friday evening filed a 790-page chargesheet in the court of judicial magistrate (first class), Sohra sub-division, against Sonam Raghuvanshi, her paramour Raj Kushwaha, Akash Rajput, Anand Kurmi and Vishal Singh Chauhan for the murder of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi at Sohra on May 23.

All the five are currently in judicial custody in Shillong.


Raja's widow Sonam, Raj, Anand, Akash and Vishal have been accused under Section 103 (I) for murder, disappperance of evidence of offence under Section 238 (a), criminal conspiracy under section 61 (2) of BNS.

East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem said a supplementary chargesheet will be submitted against the three other co-accused after the additional forensic reports are received. They are property dealer Silome James, Lokendra Tomar, the owner of the building where Sonam was hiding after the murder of Raja, and security guard Balbir Ahirbar.

James, Tomar and Ahirbar, arrested on charges of destruction and concealment of evidence in connection with the murder of Raja, are currently on bail.

Raja had married Sonam on May 11, 2025, following which the couple came to Shillong on a honeymoon trip on May 21 and subsequently went to Sohra. The couple ostensibly went missing since May 26 and on June 2, the semi-decomposed body of Raja was retrieved from a deep gorge at Arliang Riat Kunongrim, Umblai near Wei Sawdong waterfall at Sohra.

The SIT has maintained that Sonam and Raj arranged for the murder of Raja, which was carried out by Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi. Police said both Sonam and Raj and the three other accused have admitted to their roles in the murder.

Within seven days of preliminary investigation, the five accused including Sonam were traced to Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and brought to Shillong for investigation.

"After conducting a thorough investigation, including collecting and collating all evidences, it is conclusively established that Sonam Raghuvanshi was in a relationship with Raj Kushwaha and a criminal conspiracy was hatched by Raj Kushwaha along with Sonam and the three assailants to murder (L) Raja Raghuvanshi under the pretext of a honeymoon to Sohra. The murder was however executed by Aakash Singh Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan and Aanand Kurmi in the presence of Sonam Raghuvanshi at Arliang Riat Kunongrim, Umblai near Wei Sawdong," Syiem said in a statement.