Meghalaya honeymoon murder: police arrest property dealer in Indore for concealing evidence

The Meghalaya police has arrested a property dealer from Indore for allegedly concealing crucial evidence in the murder of local businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, an official said on Sunday.

The property dealer did not disclose that a bag belonging to Raghuvanshi's wife Sonam, was hidden hid in a flat in Indore after the incident, according to police sources.

Indore-based transport businessmanRaghuvanshi married Sonam on May 11 and the couple left for their honeymoon in Meghalaya on May 20.

Raghuvanshi went missing on May 23 and his mutilated body was recovered on June 2 from a gorge near a waterfall in the Sohra area of East Khasi Hills district.

Sonam, accused of conspiring with her alleged lover to killher husband, surrendered on June 8 before the police in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur district, while four other accused have been arrested from different locations in MP and UP.

"The Meghalaya police have arrested Shilom James, a property businessman from Indore, for allegedly hiding evidence related to Raja Raghuvanshi murder case," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Dandotiya told PTI.

James is accused of concealing a bag belonging to Sonam at a flat in Indore's Dewas Naka locality.

The flat was rented out to co-accused Vishal Chauhan by James, who runs a property management firm in Indore, they said.

On June 13, James told mediapersons that Chauhan approached him on May 30 and rented the flat for Rs 17,000 per month, signing a formal agreement. However, when the Meghalaya police later searched the flat, it was found vacant, as per the sources.

Sonam is believed to have stayed in the flat for some days on her return from Meghalaya, before she surrendered to UP police on June 8, the sources said.

The Meghalaya police had earlier arrested five persons in connection with the murder - Sonam, her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha and the latter's three friends. All five are currently in judicial custody in Meghalaya.

The case is being probed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Meghalaya police.

Meghalaya murder: Bustling with guests days ago, eerie silence at Sonam’s childhood home