The Shillong Police have made shocking revelations in the murder case of King Raghuwanshi of Meghalaya. SP Vivek Syem announced during a press conference that Raj Kushwaha masterminded this murder, while Sonam Raghuwanshi was his partner in crime. The five accused - Sonam, Raj Kushwaha, Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi - have confessed to their roles. Within mere 18 minutes on May 23 (from 2:00 PM to 2:18 PM), the king was slain and his body cast into a ravine. Following the murder, Sonam hid in Indore for 14 days (from May 26 to June 8). This plot resulted from a torrid love affair and mounting family pressure, with no hired assassins involved—only friendships that spiraled into murder.
SP Vivek disclosed that back in February 2025, Raj Kushwaha and Sonam had concocted two alternate plans. The first involved Sonam disappearing to create an illusion of being swept away by a river. The second aimed to murder someone else, placing the body on Sonam's scooter, then setting it ablaze to mimic Sonam's demise. These schemes failed, and due to family pressure, Sonam wedded the king on May 11. Eleven days prior, Raj plotted the murder. SP revealed Sonam and Raj were lovers, though it's uncertain if Sonam's family was aware, which remains under investigation. Perhaps Sonam felt trapped without any other option but murder.
Sonam lured the king to Guwahati under the guise of a visit to Kamakhya Temple. Three conspirators - Akash, Vishal, and Anand (Raj's cousin) - arrived in Guwahati on May 19. The initial murder plan was set for Guwahati, with a reconnaissance conducted, but when it failed, Sonam devised a plan to travel to Sohra. On May 23, the conspirators gathered in Nongriat, targeting the king when he went to use the restroom at 2:00 PM in the parking lot of the Wei Sawdong Falls, where the three individuals executed the murder. Sonam was present. By 2:18 PM, the body was disposed of in the ravine. Sonam actively participated in disposing of her husband's body.
Post-murder, Sonam handed her raincoat to Akash, whose shirt bore bloodstains. The group departed from the murder site, with Sonam riding one scooter. At AD Viewpoint, Akash discarded the raincoat, then rode the scooter with Sonam seated behind. Anand piloted another scooter. Later, Vishal provided Sonam a burqa, prearranged by Raj. Concealed, Sonam traveled by taxi to Guwahati, then to Siliguri (West Bengal), Patna, Ara, Lucknow, and finally to Indore by bus, staying there from May 26 to June 8.
A guide reported to police spotting three men with the king and Sonam. Media leaks prompted Raj to instruct Sonam in Indore to flee to Siliguri, staging a kidnapping act. However, on June 8, just as Sonam was about to leave Indore, one suspect was apprehended in Uttar Pradesh. Panic set in, and Raj advised Sonam to contact her family, claim she was kidnapped, and had escaped. Subsequently, Sonam surrendered in Ghazipur on June 8.
The SP clarified that this was not a contract killing. Raj persuaded his friends Akash, Vishal, and Anand to partake in the murder. They received only 59,000 rupees for expenses. Authorities are pursuing the financial investigation, but largely this was driven by passionate ties.
The police have amassed compelling evidence: 48 CCTV footages, a bloodstained shirt, the raincoat, murder weapon, scooter rental records, and mobile location data. SP assured that chargesheets would be ready within 90 days. The initial interrogation lasted eight days; additional remands may be necessary. There is no known individual by the name Jitendra.
Sonam intended to appear as a kidnapped victim, hoping decomposition would obscure the king's body identification. However, the police's rapid investigation unveiled the conspiracy. SP announced a reenactment of the crime scene is forthcoming.
