The Meghalaya Police have arrested Shilom James, a property dealer based in Indore, for allegedly concealing crucial evidence in connection with the murder of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, a senior police official confirmed on Sunday. According to police sources, James is accused of hiding a bag belonging to Sonam Raghvanshi, the wife of the deceased, in a flat located in Dewas Naka, Indore, shortly after the murder. The bag is suspected to contain key evidence linked to the case.
Raja Raghuvanshi, a transport businessman from Indore, had married Sonam on May 11, and the couple left for their honeymoon in Meghalaya on May 20. However, tragedy struck just days later. Raja was reported missing on May 23, and his mutilated body was discovered on June 2 in a deep gorge near a waterfall in the Sohra area of East Khasi Hills district, also known as Cherrapunji.
The murder case took a sensational turn when Sonam surrendered on June 8 to the police in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur district, following allegations that she had conspired with her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha, to kill her husband. Subsequently, four other accused were arrested from various locations in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
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Speaking to news agencies, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Dandotiya confirmed, “The Meghalaya police have arrested Shilom James, a property businessman from Indore, for allegedly hiding evidence related to the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case.”
Further investigations revealed that the flat in Dewas Naka, where the bag was concealed, had been rented out by Shilom James to co-accused Vishal Chauhan. James, who operates a property management firm in Indore, reportedly rented the flat to Chauhan on May 30 for Rs 17,000 per month, formalising the deal with a signed agreement. However, when Meghalaya police searched the flat later, it was found vacant, according to sources. Investigators believe that Sonam stayed in the flat for several days after returning from Meghalaya, before surrendering to the police on June 8.
So far, five individuals have been arrested in connection with the murder: Sonam Raghvanshi, her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha, and his three friends — Vishal Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi. All five are currently in judicial custody and are lodged in jail in Meghalaya. The case is currently being investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Meghalaya Police, which continues to uncover more details surrounding the planning and execution of the crime.
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