Suspected conspirator Boyfriend Raj, 3 other accused knew each other well, say cops

PTI, INDORE/SHILLONG, JUNE 10, 2025 : Raj Kushwaha, who allegedly plotted the murder of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi with the latter's wife Sonam during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, and three other men hired for executing the crime, knew each other from before, police officials said. Indore Police also claimed Kushwaha, the suspected boyfriend of Sonam, didn't travel to the North-Eastern state to avoid suspicion and went about his daily routine. Despite being a class 12 pass-out, Kushwaha worked as an accountant at the furniture sheet unit owned by the family of Sonam, a resident of the Govind Nagar Kharcha area in Indore. She used to look after the family business.

Sonam surfaced in UP's Ghazipur on Sunday night, where she surrendered at the Nandganj police station after Akash Rajput (19), Vishal Singh Chauhan (22), and Anand Kurmi were arrested from UP, Indore, and Sagar towns. Raj Singh Kushwaha (21), the alleged conspirator, was arrested later. Kushwaha and the three other accused are currently in the transit custody of Meghalaya Police.

Kushwaha's mother, Chunni Devi, claimed that her son was innocent and was implicated in the case. She said Raj had cried inconsolably after attending Raja Raghuvanshi's funeral in Indore. "My son is innocent. He has been framed. How can a 20-year-old boy commit such a big crime? He is the only breadwinner after my husband passed away," Chunni Devi told news agency PTI. She said her son had been working at the business establishment owned by Sonam's family for the last two years.

Raj's sister Suhani rejected reports that her brother was romantically involved with Sonam, stressing that they used to address each other as brother and sister.