The investigation into the Meghalaya honeymoon murder continues to deepen as two more individuals have been arrested for allegedly assisting Sonam Raghuvanshi after the murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi. These arrests bring the total number of people held in connection with the case to seven.
The Meghalaya Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) apprehended property agent Silome James on Saturday evening near the Bhonrasa toll plaza in Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh, as he attempted to escape to Bhopal.
“James is a real estate dealer and leaseholder of a property in Heera Bagh Colony, Indore, where Sonam stayed and stored valuables such as jewellery and other items after the crime,” said Vivek Syiem, SP of East Khasi Hills district, as reported by PTI.
A second suspect, Balvir Ahirwar, who worked as a watchman and carpenter, was taken into custody early Sunday morning from his home village in the Ashok Nagar district. According to ANI, Balvir had been stationed at the Indore apartment where Sonam reportedly took refuge following the murder.
Ashoknagar SP Vineet Kumar Jain confirmed to ANI that Shillong police had arrived in Shadora and taken Balvir with them for questioning. “Preliminary findings suggest that the flat Sonam stayed in after fleeing Meghalaya had Balvir employed as its caretaker and handyman,” he said.
Following their arrests, both suspects were presented in court in Indore and were remanded into seven-day transit custody under the supervision of Meghalaya Police, according to Additional DCP Rajesh Dandotiya.
Sonam Raghuvanshi’s Effort to Destroy Evidence
Police investigators revealed that Silome James assisted Sonam RaghuvanshI in hiding a box that contained jewellery, a laptop, and what is suspected to be a weapon linked to her alleged partner, Raj Kushwaha. The contents of the box were later destroyed.
“James guided the investigation team to the spot where he claimed to have burned all the items from the box,” an SIT official shared. However, no trace of the jewellery, firearm, or laptop was recovered.
James had earlier disclosed to media on June 13 that the flat was rented to co-accused Vishal Chauhan at a monthly rent of ₹17,000.
The case centers around the brutal killing of Raja Raghuvanshi, who was allegedly murdered on May 23 near Weisawdong Falls in Sohra while on a honeymoon. His mutilated body was discovered on June 2. According to police, the murder was orchestrated by Sonam RaghuvanshI and her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha. Both, along with three other suspects, are currently in judicial custody in Meghalaya.
