After the murder, three of the accused, named Vishal, Akash, and Anand, fled Indore by train. They kept switching trains to avoid getting caught and eventually made their way to Meghalaya.
In a shocking development, the Indore Crime Branch has said that four men accused of murdering local businessman Raja Raghuvanshi have admitted to the crime. According to ACP Poonam Chand Yadav, the men confessed during questioning and revealed chilling details about the incident. Speaking to India Today TV, ACP Yadav shared that Raja’s wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, was reportedly present at the time of the murder and didn’t intervene. “She stood there and watched everything,” he said.
The crime took place in a remote area where Raja was attacked by the group. Vishal Thakur, also known as Vicky, was the first to strike, as per the confession. The group then dumped Raja’s body into a deep gorge. “All four accused have confessed to killing Raja Raghuvanshi,” Yadav said. “The first blow was struck by Vishal alias Vicky Thakur.”
After the murder, three of the accused, named Vishal, Akash, and Anand, fled Indore by train. They kept switching trains to avoid getting caught and eventually made their way to Meghalaya. They first stopped in Guwahati before heading to Shillong.
Meanwhile, Raj Kushwaha, who is believed to be in a relationship with Sonam, stayed in Indore. Police allege that he helped fund the escape by giving each of the three men around Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 50,000 for travel expenses.
The accused told investigators that Sonam was present at the murder scene. However, what’s still uncertain is where she went afterward. ACP Yadav said it’s not yet clear whether she returned to Indore or stayed back in Meghalaya. That part of the investigation is ongoing with help from local police there.
About the murder
Raja Raghuvanshi, a businessman from Indore, had married Sonam on May 10. Barely a few days into their married life, the couple travelled to Shillong for their honeymoon. On May 21, they rented a scooter to explore the popular Sohra region, but they went missing the very next day.
Tragedy struck on June 2 when Raja’s body was discovered in a deep gorge near Cherrapunji. It was badly decomposed and had multiple stab wounds, including two fatal blows to the head.
The investigation took a shocking turn on June 9 when Sonam suddenly surrendered at a roadside eatery (dhaba) in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur district. Since then, questions have swirled around her role in the crime. While her father insists she is being framed and claims the police are “making up stories,” the accused in the case have reportedly confessed to her being present at the scene when Raja was killed.
According to the police, Sonam was frequently in touch with Raj Kushwaha, who is believed to be her lover and co-conspirator.
Despite these claims, the families of the accused, especially Raj Kushwaha’s, have stood by them. Raj’s mother broke down in front of the media, saying, “My son is innocent. He always helped people. He didn’t even know Sonam.” His sister also insisted he was working at the time and could not have been involved.
Sonam’s father has gone a step further, accusing the Meghalaya Police of twisting facts and demanded that the case be handed over to the CBI for a fair investigation. The case continues to unfold, with more twists expected as officials dig deeper into the alleged conspiracy.