SHILLONG: The Shillong Court on Friday rejected the bail application of Raj Kushwaha, a key suspect in the high-profile murder of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuwanshi.
The court’s decision to deny bail was based on technical grounds rather than the merits of the case itself. This development follows the recent release of Sonam Raghuwanshi, the victim’s wife and the first of the five accused to be granted bail in connection with the crime.
Legal counsel for the accused, Advocate P. Yobin, clarified that the rejection was primarily due to procedural documentation issues. He further informed that a fresh bail application will be filed for Raj Kushwaha shortly.
Additionally, bail pleas for the other three accused involved in the case have already been submitted and are currently pending before the court.
The investigation has gained significant momentum following the submission of a massive 790-page chargesheet by the police to the court of the Judicial Magistrate First Class under the Sohra Sub-Division. The chargesheet names five individuals allegedly involved in the conspiracy and execution of the murder.
The accused include Sonam Raghuwanshi, her alleged partner Raj Kushwaha, and three suspected contract killers identified as Vishal Singh Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi.
The case dates back to May 21, 2025, when Raja Raghuwanshi and his wife, Sonam, arrived in Shillong for a trip that eventually led them to Sohra. The couple was reported missing on May 26, 2025, sparking an intensive police search.
The investigation took a grim turn on June 2, when Raja’s body was recovered from a deep gorge at Arliang Riat Kunongrim, Umblai, located near the famous Wei Sawdong falls. The discovery of the body led to the subsequent arrests and uncovered a murder plot that has shocked the entire region.
