In a disturbing twist to the high-profile honeymoon murder case, Meghalaya police have confirmed that Sonam Raghuvanshi and Raj Kushwaha, who were accused of conspiring to kill Sonam's husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, have admitted to having a relationship.
The admission was made during the ongoing investigation by the state's Special Investigation Team (SIT), which has excluded the possibility of a narco-analysis test, contrary to demands from the victim's family.
Addressing the media, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said that Sonam and Raj have owned up to their roles and shown how the killing was done during a reconstruction of the crime scene.
"They have already confessed to the crime. We have done the reconstruction. They demonstrated to us how it was performed. We have collected enough evidence at the scene. Now I don't see any need to do a narco-analysis," Mr. Syiem added.
He went on to explain that narco tests are only normally entertained in the absence of concrete evidence and reiterated that narco tests are not legally admissible in court.
"More importantly, the Supreme Court has prohibited narco-analysis. The intention here is to gather strong, admissible evidence in order to present a good chargesheet, and not simply depend on confessions," said Mr. Syiem.
Although the police have not specifically mentioned financial motives as the only reason, the officer indicated that the accused wished to have Raja killed so that they could continue their relationship and prospective business ventures together.
"They needed him—Raja—removed from the scene. Their personal relationship and family pressures were of prime importance. In their thoughts, the simplest way to proceed was by eliminating him," stated Mr. Syiem.
The inquiry has now shifted towards Lokendra Tomar, who is an owner of an infrastructure company and also the owner of an apartment in Indore where Sonam allegedly stayed before she was arrested in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh.
Police believe a bag left behind by Sonam in the apartment, which allegedly contained a country-made pistol, mobile phone, Raja’s jewellery, and ₹5 lakh in cash, was deliberately removed in an attempt to destroy evidence. Both Raj and Lokendra are suspected of tampering with evidence.
Authorities have yet to recover the missing jewellery, believed to have been brought back from Meghalaya by Sonam.
Police are set to present three main figures—property agent Silome James, security guard Balveer, and Lokendra Tomar—to a Shillong court on Thursday. James and Balveer are also being taken to Shillong to be interrogated further.
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