East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem on Tuesday said that the three newly arrested accused, linked to the destruction of key evidence, will hopefully be produced before the court the day after (Thursday), as police continue efforts to piece together the crime.
“We have to get Tomar out here for interrogation. Why did Tomar and Silome James have to take the things out? Was it greed? Was it something else? Day after (Thursday) they will be coming, hopefully we will produce them day after,” Syiem said.
He added, “We have unravelled this case. It is our endeavour to build evidence. That is why it is not the statement of their admission but it is building evidence against those statements. Hopefully, we will chargesheet the case early.”
According to Syiem, both Raj and Sonam have admitted to being in a relationship. “When the assistants and other accused were picked up from different places, it was only after they were brought here that the whole thing was unearthed. It came to light that Sonam was staying in that flat at Indore,” he stated.
The police had no prior information about Sonam’s exact location. “She had gone to Indore. In fact, we didn’t know which place. Only after eight days of interrogation did we come to know. After our team informed Indore police, the place was kept under watch. But when our team went back, everything was empty. This happened after June 10. We came to know only after they were brought here.”
Highlighting the destruction of evidence, Syiem said, “Destruction of evidence is an offence. We have adequate evidence, but this makes the case very complete. The item which was in Weisawdong and travelled to that flat connects the accused to the crime. So persons who destroyed that evidence are also implicated.”
He confirmed that debris and burnt material were recovered and are being examined. “We have taken debris of all the burnt material. The forensic team from Madhya Pradesh had come, and we are sending it to central forensic. Some burnt pieces are there, and we are yet to ascertain what they are—probably it could be a phone. There is no sign of any pistol or jewellery yet.”
“Once these people are brought here, we will interrogate them and try to investigate where they disposed of the items,” Syiem added.
Two persons were already produced before the court day before yesterday and remanded to seven days’ transit custody. “One more person from Gwalior was arrested yesterday and is being produced today. We are asking for transit remand for him as well,” he said.
On their involvement in the crime, the SP said, “It is very clear that these people have destroyed evidence. Destruction of evidence is an offence. There was vital evidence—the gold of Sonam, the chain of Raja, was in that box. These items reached Indore and that becomes vital evidence, but these people destroyed it. Only possible reason I can see is greed. Probably people got greedy that the accused had been arrested. We have proof of them taking the box out.”
The murder of Raja Raghuvanshi on May 23 sent shockwaves across the region, with his body being recovered on June 2 after days of frantic search and investigation. The police have since worked methodically to trace the involvement of each suspect and recover destroyed or tampered evidence.
As the case progresses, Sonam Raghuvanshi and four other key accused are already in judicial custody last Saturday.
