Did Raj Orchestrate the Murder of Raja? SP Syiem Unveils a Sinister Plot

Shillong, June 13 (NationPress) In a shocking disclosure on Thursday, East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem detailed the chilling events leading to the ruthless murder of Raja Raghuwanshi, describing it as a calculated conspiracy devised by Raj Kushwaha, the alleged paramour of the victim’s wife, Sonam Raghuwanshi.

During a press briefing, SP Syiem rejected the notion of a contract killing, labeling it instead as a crime carried out by friends as a "favor" to Raj.

“Raj is the mastermind behind Raja’s murder,” Syiem declared. “He devised the plot, with Sonam—Raja’s wife—actively supporting him.”

Police investigations revealed that Raj had aimed to make Sonam vanish as early as February this year. The initial scheme involved drowning her in a river, while a backup plan included arranging a woman's corpse and incinerating it alongside Sonam’s scooty, to make it appear as though Sonam had perished. However, both strategies fell through.

On May 11, Sonam married Raja Raghuwanshi. Soon after, the couple visited the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati. Meanwhile, Raj’s three accomplices—Vishal, Anand, and Akash, one of whom is Raj’s cousin—arrived in Guwahati on May 19.

The group initially intended to murder Raja in Guwahati, but that attempt also failed. Eventually, it was Sonam who suggested relocating the plan to Sohra (Cherrapunji), where the group regrouped.

According to Syiem, all accused met in a parking lot in Sohra. There, the three men executed Raja and discarded his body into a gorge, with Sonam present during the act.

Timeline of Events:

At approximately 2:18 PM, all suspects fled the crime scene.

Sonam gave her raincoat to Akash to help conceal bloodstains on his shirt.

Sonam then left the scene on a scooty, later disposing of the raincoat at AV Point.

Following this, Akash took over the scooty while Sonam rode pillion.

The rented scooty, previously booked by Raja, was later abandoned by Anand near the Sohra border.

The police investigation uncovered blood stains on Akash’s shirt. After discarding the raincoat, Sonam took a taxi from the local stand, donning a burqa arranged and delivered by Vishal through Raj.

Her escape route spanned several states: from Guwahati to Siliguri by bus, then to Patna, Ara, Lucknow, and finally reaching Indore.

As the group became aware that police had identified them, Raj allegedly instructed Sonam to leave Indore. SP Syiem stated that Raj, in a state of panic, called Sonam and urged her to contact her family, falsely claiming she had escaped from abductors.

“All five suspects have now been apprehended. Interrogations are ongoing, and the crime scene will be reconstructed soon,” SP Syiem concluded.

Meanwhile, Davis NR Marak, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) for Eastern Range, confirmed that Sonam had confessed her involvement in the conspiracy.

However, the question of who truly orchestrated the plot remains unresolved.

"Sonam has admitted her participation, but she is placing the blame on Raj Kushwaha as the mastermind. Raj, in turn, denies the accusation and points back to Sonam," Marak stated.

"Our investigation continues to focus on both as prime suspects." Marak emphasized the importance of Sonam and Raj's relationship, which may serve as a motive for the crime.

Despite Sonam's confession, investigators are still determining who initiated the murder plan. Regarding financial aspects, Marak indicated it remains unclear whether Sonam promised the contract killers a sum of Rs 20 lakh for executing the murder.

"We are still probing this and questioning the suspects about any financial transactions. Only after we confirm their statements can we ascertain the details," he noted.

Sonam has reportedly denied any direct involvement in the killing itself. However, the contract killers have claimed that they, not Sonam, physically murdered Raja. They have also stated that Sonam aided in transporting Raja’s body to the site where it was ultimately disposed of, at the Weisawdong gorge.

Marak mentioned that the investigation team is working to reconcile inconsistencies in the statements provided by the suspects.

"We plan to take all suspects to the crime scene in Sohra once we've clarified their accounts during further questioning," he explained.

"Our goal is to ensure the facts align with the statements given."

While some suspects have denied surveying Weisawdong before the murder, Marak acknowledged that this possibility remains under investigation. In response to questions about lie detectors, Marak clarified that the SIT intends to first confirm the statements provided by the accused.

"Once the accused provide their statements, we must physically verify the details they provide—whether they went to a specific place or did something else—and only then can we consider further measures like lie detectors," he said.

The DIG also confirmed that the police will seek assistance from law enforcement agencies in other states, including Guwahati, to aid in the investigation.

Marak assured the public that all individuals directly involved in Raja's murder have been apprehended. However, he stated that the investigation remains ongoing, and additional suspects may be identified as more evidence is uncovered.

Scooter Rentals and Evidence Recovery: The investigation has revealed that three scooters were rented from Shillong in connection with the crime.

One of these scooters, which was utilized by Sonam and Raja, was discovered parked at Sohra Rim and seized by the police.

Investigators are still attempting to track the other two scooters, which were used by the contract killers. "It appears that after committing the murder, Sonam accompanied the contract killers up to Mawkdok, after which the killers continued on their path while Sonam proceeded to Guwahati and then back to Indore," Marak clarified.

"The scooters were abandoned at Sohra Rim, and it remains unclear whether it was Sonam or the contract killers who left them there." As the investigation progresses, authorities are continuing to piece together the events surrounding Raja Raghuwanshi’s tragic death, with Sonam, Raj, and the contract killers at the heart of the case.