 "Mangalsutra and ring left behind: What led police to suspect Sonam in Raja Raghuvanshi’s murder?")
Investigators looking into the honeymoon murder case in Meghalaya found a mangalsutra in a suitcase, and that discovery helped them begin to piece the case together.
But how did it end up there? And why did Sonam leave it behind?
The jewellery turned out to be the first big clue . It eventually led police to uncover what they believe was a contract killing, allegedly planned by Sonam and her suspected boyfriend.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a court in Shillong remanded Sonam , Raj Kushwaha, and three others to eight days of police custody.
In this explainer, we look at how the mangalsutra helped solve the case and where the investigation stands now
Let’s take a look:
How mangalsutra helped police to crack the case
During a search of the couple’s room at a homestay, police found a mangalsutra and a ring belonging to Sonam.
“This didn’t mean much until we found (Raja’s) body. All evidence at the time hinted that Sonam is alive,” an officer told ThePrint.
As per a police officer quoted by PTI, Sonam and Raja had reached a homestay in Sohra on May 22 without a prior booking.
Since no rooms were available, they left their suitcase there, as carrying it on a trek of over 3,000 steps to Nongriat village would have been difficult. They were heading to see the double-decker root bridge.
“We recovered Sonam’s mangalsutra and a ring from the suitcase the couple abandoned at a homestay in Sohra,” DGP Nongrang told the news agency.
He added, “A married woman leaving behind the ornaments gave us a clue to pursue her as a suspect in the case.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsMeanwhile, police began reviewing CCTV footage and speaking to people, including staff at homestays and hotels the couple had visited.
They also started checking call data records from both Sonam’s and Raja’s phones. These records helped investigators begin identifying possible suspects.
While the suitcase remained at the Sohra homestay, the couple stayed the night at a homestay in Nongriat and checked out early on May 23.
After trekking back to Sohra, they picked up their scooter and went to Weisawdong Falls. It was there, the officer said, that Raja was allegedly killed by three contract killers in front of his wife.
Did Sonam admit to involvement in Raja Raghuvanshi’s murder?
Sources told CNN-News18 that Sonam confessed to her role in the killing of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, on Wednesday.
The confession reportedly came during questioning by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). She is also said to have admitted to planning the murder with help from Raj Kushwaha, who had confessed a day earlier.
A court in Shillong has sent Sonam, Raj Kushwaha, and three others to police custody for eight days, until June 19.
Missing to murder: All about the Sonam-Raja Raghuvanshi case
Raja Raghuvanshi (29) and Sonam were married on May 11 in Indore. They were reported missing during their honeymoon in Meghalaya on May 23.
On June 2, Raja’s body was found in a deep gorge near a waterfall in Sohra (Cherrapunji) in the East Khasi Hills district.
Initially reported missing, Sonam resurfaced in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday night. She surrendered to the police there, while three of the attackers were caught in late-night raids on Monday.
The accomplices include Akash Rajput (19), Vishal Singh Chauhan (22), and Anand Kurmi. Raj Singh Kushwaha (21), accused of being the mastermind, was arrested later.
Meghalaya Police brought all the accused to Shillong, where they were presented before a local court.
Police officials said Raj Kushwaha and the three men accused of carrying out the murder have known each other for a long time.
Indore Police revealed that Kushwaha stayed back during the couple’s Meghalaya trip to avoid drawing attention and continued with his regular activities.
Though he studied only up to Class 12, Kushwaha worked as an accountant at a furniture sheet business owned by Sonam’s family in Indore’s Govind Nagar Kharcha area. Sonam was also involved in managing the family business.
With inputs from agencies
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