A local court in Shillong on Wednesday reserved its order on the bail plea of Raj Kushwaha, which was moved on parity this afternoon after co-accused Sonam Raghuvanshi secured bail in the high-profile murder case of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi. The plea, placed before the Sessions Judge a day earlier and taken up for hearing on Wednesday.
The development marks a significant turn, with Sonam Raghuvanshi becoming the first among the five prime accused to be granted bail and walking out of jail on Tuesday night, prompting the defence to press for similar relief for Kushwaha.
Counsel for Raj Kushwaha, Advocate P. Yobin said, “Sonam was granted bail yesterday, So we too the same plea that the arrest was not proper. The bail application moved today was just for Raj Kushwaha and not others. We have plead that The arrest was not proper, and it was not in as mandated for the arrest procedure. So, that is what we are also taken the plea. The court has reserved it’s order so we are expecting order any moment may be. It is upto the wisdom of the Court, whatever we have to do, we have done. Except from Sonam, I am approached by the parents of all the four accused persons. The order likely to come by tomorrow. We are waiting for the order for Raj first and very soon bail application for remaining three will be filed.”
The case, which has drawn sustained public attention, saw investigators file a voluminous 790-page chargesheet before the court of the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Sohra Sub-Division Court, naming five accused in connection with the murder. Those chargesheeted include Sonam Raghuvanshi, her alleged partner Raj Kushwaha, and three alleged contract killers — Vishal Singh Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi — all accused of being part of a conspiracy to eliminate Raja Raghuvanshi.
The case dates back to May 21, 2025, when Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife Sonam arrived in Shillong before proceeding to Sohra. The couple was reported missing on May 26, triggering a large-scale search operation. On June 2, Raja’s body was recovered from a deep gorge at Arliang Riat Kunongrim, Umblai, near Wei Sawdong Falls, a discovery that intensified the investigation and led to multiple arrests.
Court reserves order on Kushwaha bail plea
