Raja Raghuvanshi homicide case: Meghalaya courtroom frames prices towards 5 accused

A courtroom in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district has framed prices towards 5 accused within the homicide case of Raja Raghuvanshi, who was hacked to dying in May allegedly by three hitmen within the State, the place the Madhya Pradesh businessman got here along with his spouse for his or her honeymoon.

The 5 accused are Raghuvanshi’s spouse Sonam, her boyfriend Raj Kushwaha and the three hitmen — Vishal Chauhan, Akash Rajput and Anand Kurmi — who had come from Madhya Pradesh to kill the businessman. All of them denied the allegations towards them.

On Tuesday (October 28), the courtroom formally framed prices underneath Sections 103(1) (homicide), 238 (a) (disappearance of proof) and 61(2) (felony conspiracy) of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita.

According to police, Raja Raghuvanshi of Indore and his spouse Sonam travelled to Shillong on May 21 earlier than heading to Sohra.

On May 26, the couple was reported lacking, prompting a large search operation by Sohra police, the Special Operations Team, NDRF, SDRF, trekking teams and locals.

After days of intensive search, the physique of Raja was recovered on June 2 from a deep gorge at a spot close to the well-known Wei Sawdong falls in Sohra. A case was registered at Sohra police station on this regard.

Investigators discovered that Sonam was in a relationship with Raj Kushwaha.

The duo, together with three employed assailants, allegedly conspired to remove Raghuvanshi throughout their honeymoon.

The killing was carried out by the three hitmen in Sonam’s presence, police mentioned.

Within every week of the probe, the 5 accused, together with Sonam, had been arrested.

Police submitted a 790-page chargesheet earlier than the courtroom of the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Sohra Sub-Division, on September 5.

During the framing of prices on Tuesday, the courtroom noticed that, prima facie, there may be enough proof to proceed towards the 5 accused.

The defence, nevertheless, maintained that the accused had been harmless.

The trial is anticipated to start shortly.

Meanwhile, the police mentioned they’re getting ready to file a second cost sheet towards the remaining three accused – Silom James, Lokendra Tomar and Balbir Ahirbar. They had been arrested for his or her alleged function in destroying proof.