SHILLONG: The trial in the murder case of Raja Raghuvanshi, a man from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, who was killed while on a trip near the Wei Sawdong Falls, Sohra, commenced today at the District and Sessions Court, Shillong.
Bipin Raghuvanshi, the brother of the deceased Raja Raghuvanshi, who was called to testify today, informed that the trial officially began this morning.
K. C. Gautum, the counsel representing Bipin Raghuvanshi, called him to the witness stand. However, due to the lack of time, the cross-examination could not be completed today.
Consequently, the court has set the next date for the continuation of the cross-examination on November 26.
The counsel also mentioned that the Charge-sheet was framed today, and the Prosecution evidence has officially begun. The Charge-sheet plans to call up to 90 witnesses.
The counsel clarified that despite having 90 witnesses, the proceedings may not be excessively long, as some witnesses will require more time, while others will offer brief statements. Furthermore, witnesses from Indore may be called to testify via Video Conferencing (VC).
The counsel stated that since the trial has just started, the proceedings will be closely monitored as the case progresses.
Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, residents of Indore, went missing on May 23, 2025, while on their honeymoon in Meghalaya. Raja Raghuvanshi’s decomposed body was later found in the forest near Wei Sawdong Falls. Following this discovery, his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, along with five other individuals, were arrested on charges of being involved in his murder.
The five prime accused currently in Judicial Custody concerning Raja Raghuvanshi’s murder are:
Sonam Raghuvanshi: Raja’s wife.
Raj Kushwaha: Sonam’s friend.
Akash Singh Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi: Three men hired from Madhya Pradesh to carry out the murder.
The case has been filed under sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which include: Murder, Criminal Conspiracy, and Causing Disappearance of Evidence. Three other individuals related to the destruction of evidence are currently out on Conditional Bail.
In the initial Charge-sheet, the Police submitted a detailed, 790-page document against the five prime suspects on September 5. The investigation by the Meghalaya Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) confirmed that Sonam had an affair with Raj Kushwaha, and they conspired to kill Raja during their honeymoon trip to Sohra.
