In a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the murder of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, a local court on Saturday ordered 13-day judicial custody for his wife, Sonam Raghuvansh, and her alleged partner Raj, both of whom are the prime accused in the case.
According to officials associated with the case, the judicial remand came after the end of the initial period of police custody, which had been granted to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) earlier. Surprisingly, the SIT, which has been probing the high-profile murder, chose not to seek an extension of police remand for either of the two accused.
“Both accused have now been remanded to judicial custody for a period of 13 days. The police did not file an application for extending their custodial interrogation,” said Assistant Public Prosecutor Tushar Chanda, speaking to PTI after the court proceedings concluded.
The Mysterious Honeymoon and Tragic Discovery
The case, which has gripped public attention due to its chilling details, began unfolding when Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife Sonam were reported missing on May 23 while on what was believed to be their honeymoon trip in Sohra (Cherrapunji), located in the scenic hills of Meghalaya.
The disappearance initially raised concerns of an accident or natural mishap in the remote hilly terrain. However, the mystery deepened significantly when, in early June, police recovered a highly decomposed body from a deep gorge in the area. The body was later confirmed to be that of Raja Raghuvanshi.
The discovery of Raja’s body set off alarm bells, prompting Meghalaya police to launch a full-fledged investigation. Suspicion quickly turned toward Sonam and Raj, particularly in light of emerging details suggesting a pre-existing relationship between the two.
Investigation Uncovers Alleged Premeditation
During the investigation, the police reportedly unearthed evidence indicating a conspiracy to eliminate Raja, allegedly hatched before the couple left for their honeymoon. Both Sonam and Raj were soon arrested on suspicion of murder, and they were taken into police custody for interrogation.
While the police have not yet made all the findings of the probe public, sources suggest that the investigators are looking into the timeline of events leading up to the murder, the alleged role of Raj in aiding Sonam, and the motive behind the crime, believed to be rooted in personal and romantic entanglements.
With the custody period now shifting from police to judicial, it is expected that law enforcement will continue gathering documentary and forensic evidence, possibly moving toward filing a chargesheet in the coming weeks.
What’s Next?
Legal experts suggest that judicial custody typically means the investigation is moving from the active interrogation phase to evidence compilation and court preparation. During this time, the accused are held in jail rather than being questioned by police.
The tragic murder of Raja Raghuvanshi has not only stunned the business circles of Indore but also drawn attention to the dangers of personal betrayal and manipulation, especially in relationships involving trust.
As the legal process continues and more details emerge, both the public and Raja’s grieving family await justice in a case that began as a honeymoon and ended in alleged cold-blooded murder.
