Latest news with #SonamRaghuvanshi
NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
Raja Raghuvanshi Murder: Accused Sonam, Raj Kushwaha Sent To 2-Day Police Custody
Shillong: The District Sessions Court of Shillong sent Sonam Raghuvanshi and Raj Kushwaha to 2-day police custody, and the other 3 accused - Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan and Anand to 14-day judicial custody in the chilling murder case of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi who took a trip of Sohra in Meghalaya for a honeymoon with his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi. Advocate Tushar Chanda told reporters in Shillong: "Sonam Raghuvanshi and Raj Kushwaha sent to 2-day police custody, and the other accused to 14-day judicial custody." The SIT team of Meghalaya Police presented Sonam Raghuvanshi and other four accused persons in the court on Thursday. Meanwhile, in a chilling twist to the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi during his honeymoon in Meghalaya, police investigations have revealed that his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused, was in regular contact with her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha -- whose name she had saved in her phone as "Sanjay Verma" -- before as well as after her marriage. According to Meghalaya Police, Sonam made and received over 239 calls from the number in just 39 days. The police confirmed that the so-called Sanjay Verma is, in fact, Raj Kushwaha, who worked as an accountant in the furniture sheet unit owned by Sonam's family in Indore. He is now identified as the co-conspirator and the mastermind behind the murder plan. Police suspect that Sonam deliberately saved Raj's number under a different name to avoid any suspicion. His mobile phone has remained switched off since the developments pertaining to the case began unfolding. Sonam's brother, Govind, reacting to the revelations, stated: "I don't know anything about Sanjay Verma. I just got to know that Sanjay's name is also coming up." He further emphasised that the family has cut all ties with Sonam and stands with the victim's family in their fight for justice. The murder has sent shockwaves across the country. What initially appeared to be a case of a missing couple took a dark turn when the body of Raja Raghuvanshi was discovered in the forested terrain of Meghalaya, not far from Nongriat village, where the couple was last seen. The two had checked out from a homestay on May 23, just 12 days after their wedding in Indore, only for Raja's body to be recovered on June 2. According to police, Sonam had a long-standing relationship with Raj even before her marriage. Despite the ongoing affair, she went ahead with the wedding and planned a honeymoon trip to the northeast. But the trip was part of a sinister plot to eliminate Raja. Police investigations have revealed that Sonam hired three contract killers -- Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi -- to carry out the murder.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Meghalaya murder: Raja Raghuvanshi's brother demands Sonam Raghuvanshi's narco test, claims more people involved
The brother of Raja Raghuvanshi, an Indore-based businessman who was murdered in Meghalaya during his honeymoon, on Thursday demanded a narco test on the prime accused Sonam Raghuvanshi. Reacting to the Shillong district session's decision to send Sonam Raghuvanshi to two days' police custody, Sachin Raghuvanshi said she had not disclosed the motive in the last eight days and claimed that there could be more people involved in the case. 'In 8 days of remand, she (Sonam) did not tell why she killed him. So what will she tell in two days? That's why I am demanding that a narcotics test be done,' Sachin Raghuvanshi told ANI. "My only appeal to the government is that a narcotics test should be done on this... There may be more people involved in this case ..." he added. Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife Sonam were reported missing during their honeymoon in Meghalaya on May 23. On June 2, Raghuvanshi's body was found in a deep gorge close to a waterfall in the Sohra area, also known as Cherrapunji, within the East Khasi Hills district. Also Read | Raja Raghuvanshi's brother makes big claim in Meghalaya honeymoon murder case: 'Sonam hasn't…' As the search continued for Sonam, she emerged in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur, around 1,200 km away from the crime spot, in the early hours of June 9 and surrendered before police. According to police, Sonam conspired with her boyfriend Raj Kushwaha to hire three other men to kill her husband Raja during their honeymoon, nearly two weeks after their wedding. The three killers — Akash Thakur, Anand Kurmi and Vishal Chauhan — are friends and one of them is Raj's cousin. Also Read | Meghalaya honeymoon murder: Who is Sanjay Verma, whom Sonam Raghuvanshi called 100 times before marriage? On Thursday, the district session court in Shillong sent Sonam Raghuvanshi and Raj Kushwaha to 2 days police custody and the other 3 to 14 days judicial custody. Earlier, all five accused in the Sonam Raghuvanshi case were brought out of the Civil Hospital in Shillong after a medical check-up and are being produced before a local court today for further custody proceedings.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Raja Raghuvanshi's brother makes big claim in Meghalaya honeymoon murder case: 'Sonam hasn't…'
The brother of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi has claimed that the prime accused, Sonam Raghuvanshi and the other suspects in the Meghalaya murder case, have not yet confessed to their crimes and are attempting to mislead the police, reported news agency ANI. Vipin Raghuvanshi's accusation comes after the Meghalaya Police force had confirmed that Sonam Raghuvanshi, the wife of Raja Raghuvanshi who was murdered in Meghalaya on their honeymoon, had admitted to her role in the murder. Vipin demanded an additional eight days of police remand for Sonam and the other suspects to aid further investigation. Also Read: Meghalaya murder: Where did Sonam Raghuvanshi hide Raja Raghuvanshi's jewellery? What police said 'Sonam hasn't confessed her crime yet. She and the other accused are trying to mislead the police. We demand that their remand be extended by eight more days. Through further investigation and interrogation, the truth will come out,' ANI quoted Vipin as saying. The Meghalaya Police arrested five people in connection with the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, a newlywed who had come to the state on his honeymoon. Those arrested include his wife, Sonam, and four others: Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, Raj Singh Kushwaha, and Anand. Also Read: Meghalaya honeymoon murder: Who is Sanjay Verma, whom Sonam Raghuvanshi called 100 times before marriage? Raja Raghuvanshi's body was found in a gorge near Sohra (Cherrapunji) on June 2, after he and his wife were reported missing during their honeymoon trip. The Meghalaya Police's SIT (special investigation team) on Tuesday had reconstructed the crime scene as part of their investigation in the presence of his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused, and three others. Superintendent of police, East Khasi Hills, Vivek Syiem, said that the reconstruction of the crime scene was very successful as the police then 'got a very clear picture,' however, he added that one machete used in the murder was yet to be recovered. SP Syiem detailed the crime and said, 'The SIT visited several places to re-play how the accused did it. We started from the parking lot where they had kept their two-wheelers. We went to the viewpoint, and ascertained who was standing where just before the murder.' He added, 'There were three blows - first by Vishal, second by Anand and the last blow by Akash. We have ascertained that one more machete still needs to be recovered. The accused replayed how they threw the machete. SDRF are trying to recover the second weapon.'
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
a day ago
- First Post
Sonam Raghuvanshi called ‘Sanjay Verma' more than 200 times in 3 weeks: Who is he?
During the investigation, police discovered that Sonam Raghuvanshi was in frequent contact with a man called 'Sanjay Verma' in the days leading up to her husband Raja Raghuvanshi's murder. Between March 1 and April 8, Sonam reportedly made more than 200 calls to Verma, each lasting at least 30 minutes. The move raised red flags, but now police say they've cracked the mystery read more Indore couple missing in Meghalaya: Sonam Raghuvanshi — wife of the deceased Raja Raghuvanshi — along with three men accused of being contract killers hired to murder her husband during their honeymoon. Image courtesy: X As the investigation into the murder of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi during his honeymoon in Meghalaya continues, police have uncovered a new lead involving a man saved in Sonam Raghuvanshi's phone as 'Sanjay Verma.' Sources say Sonam was in frequent contact with this number, which appears on Truecaller as 'Sanjay Verma.' In the three weeks leading up to Raja's death, she made over 200 calls to the number. The high volume and duration of these calls raised red flags. Investigators began looking into who was really behind the number, and now, they believe they've cracked the mystery. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So, who exactly is Sanjay Verma? Why was Sonam in such regular contact with him? Here's what we know so far. Who is Sanjay Verma? As the investigation progressed, police uncovered that Sonam Raghuvanshi had been in constant touch with a contact saved on her phone as 'Sanjay Verma' in the weeks leading up to her marriage with Raja Raghuvanshi. Surprisingly, the communication didn't stop after the wedding. According to East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem, the calls continued well into the early days of her married life, he told PTI. Call records accessed during the probe showed that between March 1 and April 8, Sonam and the man listed as 'Sanjay' had spoken 234 times over 39 days. Many of these conversations stretched between 30 to 60 minutes, indicating a close and ongoing connection. Once the pattern was established, police began searching for Verma in Indore. However, the number in question had since been switched off, making it difficult to trace. Officers then turned to Sonam's family for leads, but even her brother Govind claimed he had never heard of anyone by that name. Speaking to reporters, Govind said, 'I don't know anything about Sanjay Verma. I had come to show you all the places where Raj used to work. Nothing has been seized from here. I have also learned today that Sanjay's name is also coming up in this.' #WATCH Raja Raghuvanshi murder case | Indore (Madhya Pradesh) | Accused Sonam Raghuvanshi's brother, Govind says, "...I don't know anything about Sanjay Verma..I had come to show all the places where Raj used to has been seized from here, I don't know anything… — ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The case took another turn when police noticed that the number listed as Sanjay Verma was last seen active on WhatsApp on June 8—the very day Sonam surrendered in Ghazipur, and all other accused were taken into custody. Eventually, police discovered that 'Sanjay Verma' was a fake name. The man behind the number was actually Raj Kushwaha, Sonam's lover. Police discovered that 'Sanjay Verma' was actually Raj Kushwaha, Sonam's lover. Sonam had saved his number under a false identity, likely in an attempt to avoid suspicion. Image courtesy: X According to a report by NDTV, Sonam had saved his number under a false identity, likely in an attempt to avoid suspicion. Earlier, police had revealed that Sonam went ahead with her marriage to Raja despite being in a relationship with Raj, the 20-year-old accountant employed at her family's plywood business. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What have investigations revealed so far The investigation into the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi has gained pace. On Tuesday, police revisited the crime scene with the accused to recreate the sequence of events. During the crime scene reconstruction, all five accused were brought to multiple locations in Sohra and Nongriat villages to retrace their steps. Meanwhile, the team also questioned Raja's brothers at his home in Indore. Reports suggest the Shillong SIT team may question Sonam again, this time at her home. Reports suggest the Shillong SIT team may question Sonam again, this time at her home. PTI Back in Shillong, the local team continues to question the accused. All the details gathered are being cross-verified with inputs from Indore. Further, the SIT in Indore would determine whether a financial motive was also at play, beyond the suspected love triangle. 'Our team is in Indore and are questioning a few people to find out if somebody has to gain from Raja's death,' SP Vivek Syiem told PTI. Raja and Sonam got married on May 11 in Indore. The couple left for their honeymoon on May 20, reaching Meghalaya. But by May 23, they were reported missing near Sohra, about 65 km from Shillong. His decomposed body was recovered on June 2 from a deep gorge near Wei Sawdong Falls. He was allegedly hacked to death with a traditional machete—known locally as a 'dao". STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After a days-long search for Sonam, she was located in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur and surrendered on June 8 at Nandganj police station. Sonam was located in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur and surrendered on June 8 at Nandganj police station. This came just hours after the three alleged hitmen—Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi—were arrested from different towns across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Raj Kushwaha was arrested shortly after. On June 11, police officials said that Sonam had confessed to her role in Raja's murder during interrogation. Following the shocking revelations, her brother, Govind, said that the family has completely severed ties with her. He expressed his support for Raja's grieving family, calling the incident devastating and vowing to stand with them in their pursuit of justice in a case that grabbed national headlines. With input from agencies
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Top 5 news of the day: First evacuation flight bringing Indians from Iran to land tonight; AI 171 crash probe widens as sabotage not ruled out; & more
The first flight carrying Indians from Iran is set to land in India tonight amid rising Israel-Iran tensions. Investigators are probing possible sabotage in the Air India Flight AI 171 crash that killed 241 people in Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, Shillong police traced a flat in Indore where accused Sonam Raghuvanshi allegedly stayed after killing her husband. Evacuations underway as Iran-Israel tensions escalate The first evacuation flight carrying Indian nationals from Iran is expected to arrive around 2 am tonight, as tensions escalate in the Middle East. The move follows Israel's major airstrike campaign on over 40 sites in western Iran, escalating fears of all-out war. Meanwhile Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei also vowed 'no mercy' toward Israel's leadership. Follow live updates Air India crash: Ground staff quizzed, phones seized, sabotage angle not ruled out A multi-agency probe has intensified into the crash of Air India Flight AI 171, which killed 241 people last week. Investigators from AAIB, DGCA, Gujarat Police, and the US NTSB are focusing on ground handling at Ahmedabad's SVPI Airport. CCTV footage has been secured, and sabotage is also being considered. The Dreamliner aircraft crashed moments after take-off in Ahmedabad. Read full story Sonam Raghuvanshi's hide out in 'secret' Indore flat after Raja's killing Shillong police tracked a flat in Indore where Sonam Raghuvanshi allegedly stayed after murdering her husband Raja during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. Investigators searched the Dewas Naka apartment for evidence but found only clothes and utensils. Sonam is believed to have vacated the flat on June 7 and destroyed all traceable clues. Read full story Rs 3,000 FASTag annual pass launched to ease toll chaos Transport minister Nitin Gadkari introduced a FASTag-based annual pass aimed at private vehicles such as cars, vans, and jeeps. Gadkari announced that the Rs 3,000 pass is valid for either 200 trips or one year, starting August 15. The initiative addresses complaints about toll plazas within short distances and seeks to cut travel delays and disputes. Read full story Congress slams BJP, Modi-Trump call triggers political row A recent phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump has sparked fresh political tension between the Congress and the BJP. During the call, PM Modi reportedly shared details about a ceasefire with Pakistan and Operation Sindoor. Congress criticised the government, claiming India has suffered a 'triple jhatka' in foreign policy. Read full story
