Overview
- The East Khasi Hills court charged five accused — Sonam Raghuvanshi, Raj Kushwaha, and alleged hitmen Vishal Singh Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi — under BNS Sections 103(1), 238(a) and 61(2).
- All five pleaded not guilty, remain in judicial custody, and have had repeated bail applications rejected by the court.
- The trial is scheduled to begin on November 11, with the prosecution set to examine key witnesses first before the sessions judge.
- Police earlier filed a 790-page chargesheet detailing forensic, digital and material evidence, including CCTV, call and GPS data, and recovered weapons, with copies provided to court-appointed defence counsel via the DLSA.
- Meghalaya Police say a forthcoming supplementary chargesheet will name Silome James, Lokendra Singh Tomar and Balbir Ahirwar for allegedly tampering with or concealing evidence.