Raja Raghuvanshi Murder: Two Accused Withdraw From Confessing Before Meghalaya Court

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Two accused of helping Sonam Raghuvanshi murder her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, in Meghalaya in May have withdrawn their previous confessions and chosen to remain silent before the magistrate, said the police on Friday.

Shillong City Superintendent of Police Herbert Pyniaid Kharkongor, who leads the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case, stated that Akash Rajput and Anand Kurmi did not make any statements when presented before the magistrate on Thursday.

“We produced only two out of the five accused. They declined to speak. However, we have substantial material evidence against them and are also awaiting the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report,” Mr. Kharkongor said.

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‘We do have strong evidences‘

Earlier, the Meghalaya Police had claimed that all accused had confessed to the crime. However, Kharkongor emphasised that confessions made to the police do not hold legal value in court. 

“It is their right to refuse a confessional statement before a magistrate. But we still have strong material evidence. There is no problem,” he added.

Statements made under Section 180 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) help investigators during the investigation and cross-examination phases. However, only those recorded under Section 183 before a magistrate are considered valid in court.

In addition to Akash and Anand, Vishal Singh Chauhan also assisted Sonam and her lover, Raj Kushwaha, in killing her husband Raja during their honeymoon in Meghalaya.