Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder Trial Begins: Wife and Four Accomplices Face Charges in Raja Raghuvanshi Killing

The trial for Raja Raghuvanshi's murder commenced on Tuesday with formal charges presented against the five defendants, including his spouse Sonam Raghuvanshi and four collaborators.

Raja's sibling Vipin Raghuvanshi was called to the Additional Deputy Commissioner Judicial Court in Shillong to present evidence related to the case.

In addition to Sonam, those implicated in the killing of the Indore businessman during the couple's honeymoon in Meghalaya in May were Raj Kushwaha, Vishal Singh Chauhan, Aakash Singh Rajput, and Anand Kurmi.

Charges against the five defendants were established on October 28, after which they declared their innocence and elected to proceed with the trial. Previously, the court had acknowledged the 790-page chargesheet submitted on September 5.

East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem verified that law enforcement is preparing a second charge sheet, expected by mid-November, ahead of the initial December deadline.

In May, Raja and his wife Sonam arrived in Shillong on the 21st before traveling to Sohra. The pair was reported missing on May 26, initiating a comprehensive search operation. On June 2, Raja's remains were discovered in a deep ravine near Wei Sawdong Falls.

Authorities indicated he had been brutally attacked, with two distinct lacerations found on his head.

Prosecutors alleged that three assailants journeyed from Madhya Pradesh to execute the murder. According to police accounts, Vishal Singh Chauhan assaulted Raja with a machete, locally termed a 'dao'. It is claimed that Sonam witnessed the attack but escaped when her husband began bleeding and screaming, only returning after his death.

Additional evidence, including another machete and a white garment believed to belong to defendant Akash Rajput, was also recovered from the ravine where Raja's body was located.

Sonam was subsequently discovered at a roadside establishment in Uttar Pradesh. All five suspects were apprehended on June 8 and 9.

The court has charged the defendants under Sections 103(1) (murder), 238(a) (disappearance of evidence), and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.