SHILLONG, June 11: In a significant development in the brutal murder case of Indore tourist Raja Raghuvanshi, a Sessions Court in Shillong on Wednesday remanded Sonam Raghuvanshi and four other accused to eight days of police custody.

East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, Vivek Syiem, confirmed that the court’s order came following an hour-long hearing. The five accused were produced before the Court of the District and Sessions Judge in Shillong earlier in the day, following a day-long wait attributed to extensive paperwork and other legal formalities.

“Thorough interrogation will start after some time, and we will confirm a lot of facts. We have adequate evidence against all the accused in the seven days since the recovery of Raja’s body on June 2. More evidence will come out after their thorough interrogation,” said Syiem.

He further added that police will soon conduct a critical reconstruction of the crime scene at the parking lot of Wai Sawdong Falls, where the murder is believed to have taken place. This will be done after the completion of the accused’s examinations and once their statements are recorded.

The prime suspect in the case, Sonam Raghuvanshi, was brought to Shillong late Tuesday night, following a three-day transit remand granted by a Ghazipur court in Uttar Pradesh on Monday.

The remaining four accused — Raj Kushwaha, Vishal Chauhan, Anand Kurmi, and Akash Thakur — were transported from Indore, Madhya Pradesh. They arrived in Guwahati early Wednesday morning and were subsequently taken to Shillong by road.

According to police sources, all five individuals have confessed to their involvement in the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, who was also Sonam’s husband. Superintendent Syiem initially requested a 10-day remand, but the court approved eight days, during which police will carry out intensive interrogation.