Honeymoon murder: Shillong cops recover burnt bag having Raja Raghuvanshi's jewellery from Indore plot; nab 2 more suspects

Time of India

4 hours ago

INDORE: In a significant breakthrough in the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case, the Shillong police officials recovered the charred remains of the bag which was brought back to Indore by key accused, Sonam, after the murder.
The bag, the officials believed, contained key evidence including mobile phones, Raja's gold jewellery. The police have been on the lookout for the bag.
The recovery was made from a vacant plot in Hare Krishna Vihar Colony near MR-3 in Indore. The operation was carried out by Shillong Police in coordination with Indore Crime Branch and forensic experts, who collected the partially burnt electronic components and blackened metallic fragments from the site.
Balvindar & Silom hold key links to probe in Sonam's escape after murder
These remains, which are linked to the murder, have been sealed and are being sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) for detailed examination, said police.
The location of the remains was revealed by accused Silom, property dealer arrested on Saturday, who led the police to the spot where he admitted to burning the bag with the help of the second accused Ballu alias Balvindar, security guard of the building where Sonam had rented the flat.
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The SIT, has been carrying out intensive searches in the city for the past five days looking specifically for the bag hidden in the flat which was rented by Sonam during her stay in Indore while evading arrest.
The Shillong SIT officials had on Saturday late night arrested Silom James, a property dealer from Mahalaxmi Nagar in Indore. Silom had rented the flat to Vishal for Rs 17,000 a month.
Sonam shifted into the flat after returning to Indore.
After the arrests of other accused in the case from Indore, Sonam left for Ghazipur on June 8, leaving the bag behind. Two days later, Silom allegedly entered the flat using a duplicate key and took away bags, clothes, food items, and other belongings which he claimed he destroyed at the vacant plot.
Police sources said that CCTV footage sourced by them shows the accused Silom removing the bag from the flat in his car on June 10.
Earlier, Silom had appeared before the media on June 13, claiming he recognized one of the accused, Vishal, after seeing him in TV news and newspaper reports.
Meanwhile, the second accused Ballu alias Balvindar, was arrested from Ashoknagar and brought to Indore on Sunday afternoon. Both have been booked for aiding murder accused and tampering with evidence.
Both accused produced in court
Additional DCP Rajesh Dandotiya said that both accused were produced before the court and sent on transit remand for seven days till June 28.
Krishna Pandey, defence advocate on behalf of Silom James said, "He was produced before the court and sent on transit remand for seven days. James is just a property dealer and has no direct involvement in the crime. He never spoke to Raj or Sonam and the Shillong police officials have not submitted any audio or video evidence to support this."
On being asked how James showed police where he had burnt the bag, Pandey said, "He has no connection with the building in question; he only facilitated the deal as a broker.
We have already submitted this in court."
The breakthrough came through the statement of an auto-rickshaw driver, Sunil Uchawane, who inadvertently became a key link in the investigation. Sunil, booked via an application by Vishal, had unknowingly transported the bag.
Sunil told police that on May 31, around 1pm, he went near Church School in Nandbagh where a young man, suspected to be Vishal alias Vicky, handed him a bag.
He was instructed to deliver it to Heera Bagh.
About an hour later, upon reaching Heera Bagh Colony near Dewas Naka, another man received the bag and paid his fare. This revelation confirmed that the bag belonging to Sonam and Raja had remained in the flat even after their departure. SIT officials checked the CCTV footage, it was found that while the bag was taken to the flat, it did not come out when Sonam left the city.
Two days later, Silom was seen taking it with him. It is suspected that Silom transferred the money and gold somewhere else before burning the electronic appliances and documents including phones, laptop and other items.