Shillong: A Shillong court has reserved its order on the bail application of Shilome James, an Indore-based property dealer arrested in connection with the sensational murder of Raja Raghuvanshi in Sohra, officials confirmed today. The development follows a heated hearing on Wednesday where James’s counsel, Devesh Sharma, presented the plea, which was vehemently opposed by Public Prosecutor Tushar Chanda.
The court’s decision is now awaited, keeping alive the intrigue surrounding the tragic case. James’s involvement came under scrutiny after gold ornaments belonging to Sonam, the deceased’s wife, and a pistol were reportedly recovered from his possession. Adding another layer to the allegations, it is claimed that a rented flat managed by James served as a hideout for Sonam upon her return to Indore after the murder.
Meanwhile, two other individuals implicated in the case, flat owner Lokendra Singh Tomar and security guard Balbir Ahirwar alias Balia, have already secured bail after their judicial custody concluded. Both Tomar and Ahirwar face accusations of tampering with vital evidence related to the crime, which unfolded in Meghalaya’s picturesque Sohra in May.
The grim narrative began with the newlywed couple, Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam, both from Indore, embarking on their honeymoon in Meghalaya in May, only to vanish shortly after. Raja’s blood-stained body was later discovered in a deep gorge in Sohra. Sonam was presumed missing until June 9, when she was dramatically apprehended from a dhaba in Uttar Pradesh, hundreds of miles away. The 24-year-old woman was nabbed in Ghazipur, while four of her alleged accomplices were arrested in Indore for their suspected role in the conspiracy and murder of Raja.
Read More: Fire Scorches Tomorrowland Main Stage, Festival’s Future Hangs in Balance