A court in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district has formally framed charges against five individuals in connection with the murder of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, who was allegedly killed during his honeymoon in Sohra in May this year. The case, which has attracted significant attention due to its violent nature and the involvement of close family members, will now proceed to trial.

The accused include Sonam Raghuvanshi, the victim’s wife; her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha; and three purported hitmen, Vishal Singh Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi. The charges, framed under Sections 103(1) (murder), 238(a) (disappearance of evidence), and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, were formally read out in court. All five accused pleaded not guilty during the proceedings before the sessions judge.

East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem, who supervised the investigation, expressed confidence in the judicial process. He stated that both the police and prosecution appreciate the court’s decision and are ready to proceed with the trial based on the evidence collected. “We are confident in the evidence placed before the court, and we trust the judicial process to take its due course,” Syiem remarked.

Investigators allege that Sonam Raghuvanshi and her boyfriend, Raj Kushwaha, conspired to kill Raja and subsequently hired the three men from Madhya Pradesh to carry out the murder during the couple’s honeymoon. Raja was attacked and killed on May 23, 2025, near Wei Sawdong Falls in Sohra. His body was recovered a week later, on June 2, from a deep gorge, prompting one of Meghalaya’s largest multi-agency search and investigation operations.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) handling the case submitted a comprehensive 790-page chargesheet in September. The document reportedly contains a wide range of evidence, including forensic analyses, digital footprints, material objects recovered from the crime scene, CCTV footage, call records, GPS tracking data, and the weapons allegedly used in the murder.

The framing of charges marks a key procedural milestone in the case, ensuring that the matter will now proceed to full trial. Investigators and the prosecution have reiterated their commitment to a meticulous presentation of evidence, confident that the judicial process will determine accountability for this high-profile crime.