In the intricate investigation of the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case in Meghalaya, new layers of cunning by Sonam Raghuvanshi continue to unfold. Meghalaya police have alleged that Sonam conspired to kill another woman and substitute her body for hers, planning an escape into obscurity.
A senior officer from Shillong police revealed that the assailants of the Indore transport businessman, Raja Raghuvanshi, intended to kill a woman, burn her body, and claim it as Sonam’s, to keep her concealed until the truth surfaced. It was uncovered that Sonam's boyfriend, Raj Kushwaha, orchestrated the scheme, with Sonam in agreement.
SP Vivek Syiem of the East Khasi Hills district stated that the conspiracy to kill Raja originated in Indore on May 11, prior to his wedding. Raja, 29, and Sonam, 24, vanished on May 23 in Sohra. On June 2, Raja’s body was discovered in a canyon near Weisadong Falls, while Sonam surrendered in Ghazipur on June 9.
Police have arrested Raj Kushwaha along with three others—Vishal, Akash, and Anand, friends of Raj, which included a cousin. The SP clarified that it wasn't a contract killing; the trio assisted Raj out of friendship. Raj provided ₹50,000 for their expenses.
The conspiracy traced back to February in Indore, began with plans either to feign Sonam’s drowning or to kill a woman and burn her body as Sonam's. Both schemes faltered. Initially plotted for Guwahati, the murder moved to Sohra, per Sonam's suggestion. After a meeting in Nongriat on May 23, Raja was murdered with Assamese 'daw' (machete) between 2:00 and 2:18 PM at Weisadong Falls and his body thrown into a gorge. Sonam was present and handed a blood-stained raincoat to Akash, which was later disposed of.
Sonam traveled disguised in a burqa from Guwahati by taxi, switched to a bus and train to Siliguri (West Bengal), then to Patna, Ara, Lucknow, and finally Indore. A tour guide’s account of seeing Sonam and Raja with three others led police to clues. Raj advised Sonam to stage an abduction from Siliguri while he remained in Indore. However, Raj grew anxious after Akash’s arrest on June 8, prompting Sonam's surrender in Ghazipur.
Police recovered the raincoat and scooter. SP Syiem remarked,
