Honeymoon murder: Slain businessman's father demands death sentence for all culprits
Days after Raja's body was found in a gorge in Sohra, Meghalaya, Sonam surrendered before the police in Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh late on Sunday night, while four accused, including suspected conspirator Raja Kushwah, were arrested from different areas of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
"My son died in agony. All the culprits should be hanged to set an example, so that no family loses its son to such crime in future," Raghuvanshi's father Ashok Raghuvanshi told PTI.
Overwhelmed by the tragedy and sordid details emerging during the investigation, the Raghuvanshi senior expressed disbelief over his newly-wed son returning the family's Indore home in a coffin.
"My son's body was mutilated. My family members didn't allow me to have the last glimpse as they were concerned over my heart ailment", he said, struggling to maintain his composure.
Raghuvanshi also claimed that Sonam got her husband murdered to remove the 'Mangal Dosh' in her horoscope so that she could later marry her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha, who worked in the furniture sheet business of Sonam's family in Indore.
Dismissing this claim, local astrologer Dheeraj Dixit said "mangal dosh" cannot be removed by the death of one's spouse.
Initially, the family of Raja Raghuvanshi had accused the Meghalaya Police of negligence in expediting the investigations. However, the tone of this family has changed after new details emerged.
Police arrested Akash Rajput from Uttar Pradesh, and Vishal Singh Chauhan , Raj Singh Kushwaha , the alleged conspirator, and Anand Kurmi from Indore and Sagar.
Raja's elder brother Vipin Raghuvanshi said he wanted to apologise for giving statements against the Meghalaya government.
"We did not know that Meghalaya Police were conducting a secret operation to nab Raja's killers. We had no intention of defaming the Meghalaya government. We are also grateful to the Madhya Pradesh government for supporting us in difficult times," he added.
After their wedding on May 11 in Indore, Raja and Sonam travelled to the northeastern state for honeymoon. They disappeared on May 23, hours after checking out of a homestay at Nongriat village, 20 km from where Raja's body was found on June 2.
Raja's relatives identified the body through a distinctive tattoo on his right hand. A woman's white shirt, a strip of medicine, a part of the LCD screen of a mobile phone, and a smartwatch were also seized at the spot, police had said.
Police also recovered a bloodstained machete , which they believe was used in Raja's murder.
A raincoat also believed to belong to the couple, was recovered from Mawkma village, a few kilometres away from the gorge where Raja's body was found.
Raja's autopsy report revealed that he was hit twice on the head with a sharp object.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
UPSC aspirant caught using unfair means during govt job exam, barred for 3 years
A civil services aspirant has been barred for three years over the alleged use of unfair means during a government job recruitment exam. Besides, her candidature for the current year's examination also stands cancelled, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced on Friday. UPSC Aspirants seen outside an examination centre in Delhi. (Image for representation)(Hindustan Times) The commission said the woman was found in possession of incriminating material that qualified as the use of unfair means during an exam. "As the candidate has violated the rules of the Examination and is found to be guilty under the rule of the Examination - 12(1)(h) 'being in possession of or using unfair means during the examination'," the UPSC said in a post on Linkedin. The commissions announced the cancellation of the aspirant's candidature for this year, and said she was debarred from appearing in all future examinations conducted by the UPSC for a period of 3 years. The UPSC said that the decision was in line with standardisation of penalties, and also shared a document outlining how violation of rules is dealt with. "Any candidate found guilty of indulging in unfair means or misconduct during examinations faces strict disciplinary action as per rules, including debarment from future examinations, as the strictest action," UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. The official termed UPSC 'an epitome of merit and fair system' and said that the commission ensures that candidates get selected purely on merit basis. The action against the UPSC aspirant comes over an year after the commission cancelled former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar's provisional candidature. Puja allegedly misrepresented her identity and used forged documents to clear the 2022 civil services examination. She submitted fake Other Backward Class (OBC) and disability certificates, and claimed that her family income was ₹6 lakh per annum, to qualify for the OBC non-creamy layer category. A detailed probe later revealed that her father had declared assets of ₹40 crore when he contested general elections as an Independent, and her family owned several immovable properties and vehicles. (With PTI inputs)
News18
4 hours ago
- News18
'Pakistan Under Asim Law': Imran Khan Alleges He Is Tortured In Jail
Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan criticised Army Chief Asim Munir, accusing him of imposing "Asim Law" and collapsing law and order. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has once again trained his guns at Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, saying that the law and order has totally collapsed in the country as 'Asim Law" has been imposed in Pakistan. The 72-year-old cricketer-turned-politician, who has been incarcerated since August 2023 after he was booked in multiple cases, accused the country's military intelligence agency, ISI of protecting Munir. 'Field Marshal Asim Munir is disgracing the military just as Yahya Khan once did," he said. The former Prime Minister also took a dig at the Shehbaz Sharif-led government, saying that a 'Dacoits-and-Duffers Alliance' has taken full control of Pakistan. 'At this time, the Parliament, PM Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari and the courts are all unconstitutional," he said. He also accused the Army Chief of shooting and killing the unarmed civilians on November 26, 2024, in Islamabad. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members to hold Munir 'accountable and responsible" if anything happens to him in prison. He had alleged mistreatment of himself and his wife, Bushra Bibi, saying that their basic rights have been systematically stripped away. Khan had said that he is being treated worse than convicted terrorists, saying that a military officer serving a sentence for murder was enjoying VIP treatment in jail. 'Meanwhile, I am subjected to relentless abuse. But no matter what they do, I have never bowed before oppression, and I never will," he said. What Happened In November? Last year in November, Pakistan's security forces launched a sweeping midnight raid on supporters of jailed former premier who had stormed the capital demanding his release. Thousands of protesters had gathered in the centre of Islamabad after a convoy, led by Khan's wife, broke through several lines of security all the way to the edge of the city's highly fortified red zone. At least six people, including four paramilitary soldiers, were killed in the clash. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's office said in a statement that four members of the security services were killed when they were rammed by a vehicle. PTI spokesman Zulfikar Bukhari rejected the government's claim that the security forces were killed after being rammed by a vehicle. He said two protesters were killed and 30 injured in the clashes. One of the protesters was shot dead, and the other was run over by a vehicle, Bukhari had said. view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 23:56 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Saif Ali Khan stabbing case: Mumbai Police opposes bail plea of attacker, sights ‘strong evidence' against him
Mumbai Police have opposed the bail plea of the Bangladeshi national arrested for allegedly stabbing Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan with a knife and injuring him at his home here in January this year, telling a Mumbai court there was "strong evidence" against the accused. Mumbai: Actor Saif Ali Khan was stabbed at his Mumbai residence in January this year. (PTI Photo/Shashank Parade)(PTI05_03_2025_000091A)(PTI) What Mumbai Police said Citing a Forensic Science Laboratory report, police reiterated before the sessions court their earlier claim knife fragments that got lodged near the actor's spine during the attack as well as a part found at the crime spot have matched with the weapon recovered from the accused, Shariful Islam. These three pieces were part of the same weapon (knife) used to attack the filmstar, the police said in a written response to the accused's plea submitted in the court on Thursday (July 24). Khan was repeatedly stabbed with a knife by an intruder inside his 12th floor apartment in upscale Bandra on January 16 during a robbery attempt. 'There was a possibility that he may flee India' The 54-year-old actor underwent surgery at Lilavati Hospital to remove a piece of knife that got lodged near his spine during the attack. He was discharged from the private hospital after five days. Shariful Islam, a Bangladeshi national, was arrested two days later for allegedly stabbing Khan. The police, in their response, highlighted that the accused is a Bangladeshi citizen residing illegally in India. If granted bail, there was a possibility that he may flee India and not appear before the court during the trial. The crime committed by the accused is of a "very serious nature, and strong evidence" is available against him, they argued. In his bail plea, filed through advocate Vipul Dushing, the accused asserted he was innocent and had no prior criminal record. Investigation into the case has practically concluded with only the filing of a chargesheet pending, the accused contended while seeking bail. The alleged attacker has been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections related to house trespass, robbery and dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous injury. (via PTI inputs)
