What Will Happen to the Five Accused in the Raja Raghuvanshi Murder Case?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Five accused in Raja Raghuvanshi murder case presented in court.
- Police seek extension of custody for further interrogation.
- Raja and Sonam were reported missing during their honeymoon.
- Crime scene reconstruction conducted by police for investigation.
- Raja's decomposed body discovered in a gorge in Sohra.
Shillong, June 18 (NationPress) The five individuals charged in the murder case of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi are set to appear before the District and Sessions Court in Shillong tomorrow, as their eight-day police custody period comes to an end, according to officials on Wednesday.
A senior police official mentioned that all five defendants, including Raja's wife Sonam Raghuvanshi, will be brought back to the court to request an extension of their police custody.
"We require the police custody of all the accused for further interrogation related to this case," the official stated.
Raja Raghuvanshi (28) and his spouse Sonam Raghuvanshi (24) were reported missing on May 23 in Sohra (Cherrapunji), located in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district, shortly after checking out from a homestay in Nongriat village.
After their apprehension, the five accused—including Sonam and four others: Raj Singh Kushwaha (21, Sonam's alleged lover), Anand Singh Kurmi (23), Akash Rajput (19), and Vishal Singh Chauhan (22)—were presented in the District and Sessions Court in Shillong on June 11.
The court ordered an eight-day police custody for all five suspects.
Sonam and Raja were married in Indore (Madhya Pradesh) on May 11 and arrived in Meghalaya via Guwahati on May 20 for their honeymoon.
The decomposed remains of Raja Raghuvanshi were discovered in a gorge beneath the Wei Sawdong parking area in Sohra-Cherrapunji on June 2, eight days after the couple vanished during their honeymoon at this popular tourist site in the northeastern state.
Following the recovery of Raja’s body, the Meghalaya Police established Special Investigation Teams (SITs) and revised their investigative strategy, resulting in the arrest of all five suspects in the murder case.
The three SIT teams of Meghalaya Police separately interrogated the five accused and on Tuesday transported them to Sohra (Cherrapunji), approximately 65 km from Shillong, to reconstruct the crime scene as part of their investigation into Raja Raghuvanshi’s murder.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, Vivek Syiem, emphasized that the crime scene reconstruction has provided additional clarity on the murder case. The police will once again present all five accused in the District and Sessions Court in Shillong tomorrow, requesting an extension of their police custody.