'Raja was taken by surprise': Police recreate Meghalaya crime scene; 'Sonam fled after screams'

NEW DELHI: Meghlaya police on Tuesday said that they "got a very clear picture" of how Sonam, her lover Raj and two other accused murdered the Indore businessman, Raja Raghuvanshi, in the hills.

In the presence of Sonam and three others, special investigation team of Meghalaya police reconstructed the crime scene in Sohra as part of their investigations.

One more weapon still needs to be recovered
After the reconstruction of the crime scene, Vivek Syiem, superintendent of police, East Khasi Hills, said that they "got a very clear picture now." He added that one more machete used to murder Raja still needs to be recovered.


"The SIT today visited several places to re-play how the accused did it. We started from the parking lot where they had kept their two-wheelers. We went to the viewpoint, and ascertained who was standing where just before the murder. There were three blows - first by Vishal, second by Anand and the last blow by Akash. We have ascertained that one more machete still needs to be recovered. The accused replayed how they threw the machete. SDRF are trying to recover the second weapon," he said.


'There were three blows'
"There were three blows. The first one was made by Vishal from the back while Sonam was in front of him. It was a major blow in which the accused used both hands. Then Anand made the second hit and the last blow was by Akash," the SP said.

“Raja was taken by surprise and he died because of the blows,” Syiem said, dismissing reports that the fall into the gorge caused his death.

Vishal hit first... Sonam ran away... three accused threw body

Syiem told media that Raja's phone was damaged by Sonam and then by Vishal after the murder.

"We have ascertained what happened to Raja's mobile phone. It was damaged by Sonam and then by Vishal. This whole thing was played out, and also their exit from here," he said.

"We have ascertained that the victim was hit with the weapon. Sonam was in front, Raja was behind, Vishal was to the right, Akash was just behind but to the left and Anand was to his left. The first hit was by Vishal aka Vicky. When Raja was hit and blood came out, Sonam ran off from the spot as he was screaming. She just moved away from that spot. The three accused threw the body down," he added.

Sonam was standing there when three accused killed Raja
Speaking with ANI, Syiem said that Sonam has confessed to the crime and was standing at the crime scene when the three accused were murdering Raja.

"Today, we recreated the crime scene, where she stood, what her role was, everything has come out today. The three people killed Raja, and Sonam was standing there. She destroyed the phone. It was all pre-planned. All three of them dumped his body."


A total of five people have been arrested in connection with murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, a newlywed who had come to the state on his honeymoon.

Those arrested include his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, and four others: Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, Raj Singh Kushwaha, and Anand.