Co-accused in Raghuvanshi murder case remanded in judicial custody
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The trio were charged with concealment and destruction of evidence, crucial to the case. While Shilom James was remanded in 14 days' judicial custody, Lokendra Singh Tomar and Balbir Ahirwar, alias Balia, were remanded in seven days of judicial custody.
"The accused Shilom James, Balia and Lokendro were produced in the honourable court today after their police custody was over. IO (investigating officer) had prayed for 14 days' judicial custody.
From the prosecution side I appeared and from the legal aid Sudip Rana appeared. After hearing at length, court remanded Shilom James in 14 days' judicial custody and other two accused, Lokendra and Balia for seven days' judicial custody," assistant public prosecutor Tushar Chanda said.
On June 26, the three co-accused, who were arrested in Madhya Pradesh and brought to Shillong by the special investigation team of Meghalaya Police, were remanded in six days' police custody.
Property dealer Shilom James, who had rented a flat to one of the main accused, Vishal Singh Chauhan at Indore, was arrested for destruction and concealment of evidence, including a pistol, ammunition, and cash, from a bag belonging to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the murder of her husband Raja at Sohra on May 23. Acting on leads provided by James, the SIT recovered a country-made pistol with two magazines and two .32 ammunition from a stream in Indore and had also seized Rs 50,000 in cash from James's car.
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James had admitted that the cash was taken from a laptop bag of Raj Kushwaha, Sonam's 'lover', police said.
Owner of a flat in Indore, Lokendra Singh Tomar, who had gone into hiding was traced and arrested in Gwalior.
Sonam had reportedly stayed in that flat from May 26 to June 8 after fleeing Meghalaya post her husband's murder. She later surfaced in Uttar Pradesh and surrendered before the police, following which she was brought to Shillong, where she is currently under judicial custody.
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