Overview
- An East Khasi Hills court formally charged five people under BNS Sections 103(1), 238(a) and 61(2), and each pleaded not guilty.
- Those charged are Sonam Raghuvanshi, her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha, and three alleged hitmen — Vishal Singh Chauhan, Akash Rajput and Anand Kurmi.
- The SIT says its 790-page chargesheet includes CCTV footage, call records, GPS data and recovered weapons that tie the accused to the killing.
- Police said a second chargesheet is being prepared against Silom James, Lokendra Tomar and Balbir Ahirbar for allegedly destroying evidence.
- Raja Raghuvanshi was killed near Wei Sawdong Falls during a May honeymoon trip, his body was recovered on June 2 after a multi-agency search, and early bail bids by the five accused were repeatedly rejected.