New Twist in Sonam–Raghuvanshi Murder Case: Two Previously Arrested Men Dropped from Chargesheet

Indore/Shillong: In a significant development in the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case, Meghalaya Police have excluded two previously arrested men from the chargesheet, saying further investigation found no evidence to support the allegations against them.

The two men, Balbir Ahirwar and Lokendra Singh Tomar, had been arrested on suspicion of destroying evidence linked to the high-profile killing. Both are currently out on bail. However, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said the final investigation report concluded that the charges against them could not be substantiated.

Arrests made on suspicion, says police

According to police, the earlier arrests were based on suspicion during the initial phase of the probe. A detailed investigation later found no role of the two men in the alleged tampering of evidence, leading to their exclusion as named accused in the chargesheet.

Meanwhile, the main accused, including Sonam Raghuvanshi, remain lodged in Shillong jail. Other accused persons in the case are still in judicial custody.

Murder during honeymoon trip

Raja Raghuvanshi, a businessman from Madhya Pradesh, was murdered in May last year in a secluded area near Wei Sawdong Falls in Sohra, East Khasi Hills district. After an extensive search, his mutilated body was recovered from a deep gorge on June 2.

In the days following the incident, Sonam Raghuvanshi was initially reported missing, triggering speculation about outside involvement. She was later traced in Uttar Pradesh, after which investigators alleged that she conspired with her boyfriend, Raj Kushwaha, to orchestrate her husband’s murder.

Police said the trial process will proceed based on the final chargesheet and evidence on record.