SHILLONG, June 17: In a major breakthrough in the sensational murder case of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, the Meghalaya Police on Tuesday recovered the second machete (dao) used in the crime from Weisawdong Falls during a detailed reconstruction of the crime scene.
Raghuvanshi’s decomposed body was discovered earlier this month in a deep gorge near the popular tourist destination in Sohra (Cherrapunji). The second murder weapon, with a steel handle, was found using a metal detector by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) based on confessions from the accused.
The crime scene recreation involved Raghuvanshi’s wife Sonam and three accomplices — Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi — who allegedly conspired and executed the murder. All four are currently in police custody.
East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem said the Special Investigation Team (SIT) reconstructed the events across five locations, starting from Mawlakhiat village to Weisawdong parking lot, carefully documenting the sequence with videography and independent witnesses.
“We now have a clear picture of how the crime was executed. The accused persons replayed their roles, showing where the scooters were parked, where they stopped to take photos, and ultimately where the fatal attack occurred,” Syiem said.
According to the SP, the brutal murder involved three machete blows: the first by Vishal, the second by Anand, and the final by Akash. Police also clarified how the two murder weapons were disposed of — both thrown off cliffs after the attack.
The police additionally recovered Akash’s white blood-stained shirt, found earlier with Raja’s body, after Akash demonstrated how he discarded it. Investigators also confirmed that Raja’s mobile phone was first damaged by Sonam and later destroyed by Vishal.
The SIT is working toward filing the chargesheet within a record time. The murder, which occurred under the pretext of a honeymoon trip, has shocked the region and drawn national attention.
