Daijiworld Media Network- Indore
Indore, Jun 18: In a chilling twist to the brutal murder of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, Meghalaya Police on Tuesday recovered a second machete (“dao”) used in the crime, during a recreation of the murder scene with the accused in Sohra.
The weapon was located deep inside a gorge beneath the Wei Sawdong Parking Lot at Riat Arliang, from where Raja’s body and another machete were recovered earlier this month. Investigators initially believed only one weapon was used in the grisly attack, but the fresh discovery confirms the involvement of multiple weapons in the calculated killing.
The murder, which has sent shockwaves across the country, unfolded during what was supposed to be a romantic honeymoon trip for newlyweds Raja (29) and Sonam (24). The couple, hailing from Indore, had tied the knot on May 11, unaware of the sinister betrayal awaiting Raja.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) recreated the crime scene on Tuesday, escorting all five arrested accused — Sonam, her lover Raj Kushwaha, and three hired hitmen Vishal Singh Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi — to the site under heavy police security.
According to police, Vishal was the first to strike Raja with a machete, inflicting fatal injuries as the businessman screamed in agony. Sonam reportedly fled the scene after the initial blow, while Vishal and the others continued the brutal assault.
The case initially began as a “missing couple” alert when Raja and Sonam disappeared on May 23 after checking out of a homestay in Nongriat village, approximately 20 km from where Raja’s body was found on June 2.
Sonam later resurfaced in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, on June 8, where she surrendered at Nandganj Police Station. By that time, the three hitmen had already been apprehended from locations in Uttar Pradesh, Indore, and Sagar (Madhya Pradesh). Raj, the alleged mastermind and Sonam’s paramour, was arrested subsequently.
During interrogation, Sonam confessed to the crime on June 11. Investigators revealed that her cousin, Jitendra Raghuvanshi, had arranged the first payment installment to the hitmen. It is suspected that financial interests and her ongoing relationship with Raj drove Sonam to orchestrate her husband’s murder.
Reacting to the shocking developments, Sonam’s brother Govind expressed deep remorse and announced that the family had severed all ties with her. He extended support to Raja’s bereaved family and promised to help them in their pursuit of justice.
The brutal betrayal and premeditated killing of a husband by his own wife and her accomplices have left the nation stunned, highlighting the dark side of human relationships and trust.
Police continue to investigate the case further, as the recovered weapons and confessions bolster the prosecution's case in what is shaping up to be one of the most heinous crimes in recent memory.