SHILLONG – In a significant breakthrough, Meghalaya Police have arrested four people in connection with the murder of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, whose body was found in a gorge near Weisawdong Falls on June 2. The 30-year-old had gone missing along with his wife, Sonam, during their honeymoon in Meghalaya on May 23.
The case took a dramatic turn after Sonam surrendered to police in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. Three others, allegedly hired by her to carry out the murder, were picked up in coordinated raids in Madhya Pradesh and UP. A fifth suspect is still on the run.
Meghalaya DGP I Nongrang confirmed that the murder was a planned contract killing. “Sonam hired the men who accompanied the couple during their trip. The investigation is ongoing to arrest the remaining accused,” she said. A tourist guide in Mawlakhiat had earlier told police he saw the couple with three men speaking Hindi, who weren’t locals.
The couple had reached Mawlakhiat on May 22, and were last seen climbing the trail to Nongriat on May 23. Their rented scooter was found abandoned a day later, triggering a search operation. Bloodstained evidence and the couple’s raincoat were recovered near the crime scene.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma praised the police for solving the case within a week, saying, “Well done #MeghalayaPolice.”
Meanwhile, both families have demanded a CBI investigation, citing mistrust in the local investigation. Sonam’s father claimed she was kidnapped and questioned the police’s handling of the case. Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav has also requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to transfer the case to the CBI. The couple had tied the knot on May 11 and left for their honeymoon on May 20.
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