Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder: Two More Arrested in MP for Aiding Prime Accused Sonam Raghuvanshi

The net continues to tighten in the Meghalaya honeymoon murder case, with Meghalaya Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) arresting two more suspects from Madhya Pradesh for allegedly assisting Sonam Raghuvanshi after the murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi. With these arrests, the total number of accused in custody has risen to seven.

One of the new suspects, property dealer Silome James, was apprehended on Saturday evening while attempting to flee through the Bhonrasa toll gate in Dewas district. According to East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem, James had leased a flat in Indore’s Heera Bagh Colony to Sonam, where she stayed after fleeing Meghalaya and allegedly stored jewellery and other belongings taken after the crime.

The second suspect, Balvir Ahirwar, a watchman and carpenter, was arrested from his native village in Ashok Nagar district early Sunday morning. He was reportedly working at the Indore flat Sonam had occupied after the murder. Ashoknagar SP Vineet Kumar Jain confirmed to ANI that Shillong Police had arrived in Shadora to take Ahirwar into custody for further questioning.

Both accused were produced before a local court in Indore and have been remanded to seven-day transit custody of Meghalaya Police, Additional DCP Rajesh Dandotiya confirmed.

Property Dealer Allegedly Helped Destroy Evidence

Investigators believe James played a key role in helping Sonam conceal and later destroy a box containing crucial evidence — including jewellery, a laptop, and a possible weapon belonging to her alleged accomplice and lover, Raj Kushwaha.

“The property dealer led the SIT to the spot where he had burned the contents of the box,” a senior SIT officer said. However, no traces of the suspected pistol, laptop, or jewellery were recovered.

James had earlier told reporters that he rented out the flat to another co-accused, Vishal Chauhan, for ₹17,000 per month.

Background of the Case

Raja Raghuvanshi was brutally murdered near Weisawdong Falls in Sohra on May 23 while on his honeymoon. His mutilated body was recovered on June 2. Police allege that the murder was premeditated and orchestrated by his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, in collusion with her lover Raj Kushwaha. Both are among five others currently in judicial custody in Meghalaya.