In a case that has gripped the nation with its chilling twists, the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi during what was supposed to be a honeymoon has uncovered layers of deception, destruction, and collusion. From missing phones to torched evidence, this story grows darker with each new revelation.
The Honeymoon Murder: From Flat Owners to Fire and a Deeper Web of Lies
In one of the most macabre and sensational killing cases in recent times, businessman Raja Raghuvanshi’s death is no longer just a tale of a gory crime. From a honeymoon with a clueless bride to a calculated killing to a widening circle of purported conspirators and obliterated evidence, the unknown grows deeper and darker.
What started as a journey to celebrate a new life together has revealed a horrifying plot that connects several people in different states and time periods. At the heart of the new twist is Lokendra Tomar who owns a flat in Indore where accused wife Sonam Raghuvanshi and her suspected aides are suspected to have put up after the crime. Tomar is now in custody, under arrest and charged with assisting in the destruction of crucial evidence that could have helped police close their case.
Lokendra Tomar: A Landlord Who Turned Suspect
When investigators began scrutiny, rather than turning to Sonam and the three men he allegedly employed to carry out the killing, their suspicions turned to potential accomplices who may have helped the accused after he killed Rohit. The Indore flat connection to Lokendra Tomar came to light during interrogation and that made him a prime suspect.
- Tomar had visited Uttarakhand on June 16 and reached Gwalior by June 22, sources said.
- A request was sent by the police of Meghalaya and he was finally tracked and arrested from Gwalior.
It is further alleged that there was an attempt to conceal the presence of Sonam and the other accused at Tomar’s flat by destroying an important bag left by her. That bag, investigators believe, contained:
- A country-made pistol
- Sonam’s phone
- Raja’s jewellery
- Rs 5 lakh in cash
It was not just that Tomar allegedly made a botched attempt to throw away this bag; he also attempted to have evidence from the close-by CCTV (and from a car showroom next door) removed, offering further ground for skepticism about his role.
The Bag That Holds More Than Secrets
The black bag’s whereabouts and potential destiny emerged as a central issue in the investigation. Sonam is said to have left it in the Hirabagh flat on June 8 before going to Ghazipur. In the interrogation, she confessed to leaving behind her phone and her deceased husband’s other items.
But when the flat was raided by the police, nothing was found.
That’s when the property dealer, Silome James, started coming under scrutiny. The flat had been rented by James for one of the trio of alleged killers, Vishal Singh Chauhan. He told police later that Lokendra Tomar had asked him to take out the bag when Sonam surrendered.
But when James didn’t follow through, Tomar reportedly decided to take action for him. During the initial probe, it was found that after Sonam surrendered, two days later, James along with the building security guard, Balveer, had gone to his flat and taken the bag.
Destruction of Evidence: A Fire, a Bribe and a Missing Laptop
Investigators said the bag was eventually burned, along with what was inside of it. Balveer, who was reportedly paid Rs 5,000 to commit the crime, fled to his hometown Ashok Nagar. In the meantime James, unknown to anyone, took over Sonam’s laptop that later his wife had thrown away.
James and Balveer were caught on CCTV camera – the footage which was seized by the Meghalaya Special Investigation Team. They were arrested and only served to compound the convoluted entanglement of rogues and villains.
Also Read, The Raja Raghuvanshi Murder Case: 10 Shocking Revelations That Exposed a Chilling Plot
The Murder Timeline: A Series of Chilling Events
Raja and Sonam were married May 11. By May 20, they departed on a one-way ticket for their honeymoon in Meghalaya. The pair reportedly spent the following three days exploring the area together. Then, they vanished.
Both families started to panic when they couldn’t reach the couple. The missing person case quickly turned into a homicide investigation after Raja’s body was found in a gorge on June 2 and preliminary investigation pointed to her being murdered 10 days before.
The autopsy records indicated he had been hit twice – once in the back and once in the front of his head. It was apparent that the killing was not a spur-of-the-moment act but a planned hit.
June 7: The Break in the Case
The break came when an unconscious Sonam was found at a dhaba in Ghazipur on June 7. She was taken to the local medical college and later turned herself in to the police.
Her surrender raised many questions. Why had she waited so long? Was she escaping? Hiding? And, most important, who aided her in reaching Ghazipur?
The Phones That Disappeared
During their trip, Sonam and Raja had four mobile phones – three of which belonged to Sonam, investigators said. After the murder, she reportedly crushed Raja’s mobile phone. The other phones are still unaccounted for.
That detail has suddenly taken on particular importance now that police suspect the devices could contain vital messages, call logs, or more evidence regarding collaboration with three men accused of committing the murder. The search is still on for these gadgets even as the SIT patches up a timeline with the help of digital forensics.
Also read, Meghalaya honeymoon murder: Sonam, Raj sought to shift blame during questioning, investigators say
The Honeymoon Murder: Larger Questions
Marital issue turned into something else. It’s no longer just a woman and three killers – in its way, it’s a multistoried crime, in which property dealers, flat owners and small-time local enablers have a stake.
Among the big remaining questions for investigators are:
- Why didn’t Sonam get her bag cleared instead of leaving it in the bus?
- Who else, if anyone, had knowledge of the crime prior or subsequent to its commission?
- Had others been promised a part of the Rs 5 lakh seized from the flat?
- What has happened to the cell phones?
- Was Lokendra Tomar’s help offered voluntarily or did the police coerce him?
A Growing Conspiracy
A pattern of nested engagement is coming into focus. From the planning of the alleged Sonam to the three men who executed the murder and then other conspirators who attempted to muddy the trail – the whole saga appears to be that of a carefully built conspiracy that ensnared many players.
The cash, the jewelry, the firearms all point to this not being a crime of passion but one driven by financial greed, pre-planning and post-murder orchestration.
State-to-State Cooperation and Legal Implications
While arrests have been made from all over Madhya Pradesh and parts of Uttar Pradesh, coordinated effort between state police departments – in particular between Meghalaya and MP – emerges as the gamechanger.
The evidence – of missing phones, destroyed bags, bribes to building staff – is so questioned that it now leaves the case legally compromised. With much of the evidence already being lost or tampered with, the prosecution will depend heavily on confessions, CCTV camera footage and circumstantial evidence.
Conclusion
The murder of Raja Raghuvanshi is not an ordinary whodunit anymore. The result is a tangle of betrayals, manipulations and frantic attempts to sweep the truth away. Endlessly, with each new arrest, the picture only grows more complex – incriminating not just those who carried out the deed, but also destroyers of its footprints.
Whether it’s Sonam’s reluctant admission, Tomar’s burnt evidence, or James’ sinister land falsification; shining in all of them is the grim reminder of just how much can be destroyed to cover up a murder.
As the Meghalaya SIT dives deeper, the country waits, hoping justice doesn’t go up in smoke the way the bag that once held the truth did.
FAQs
Who is Lokendra Tomar?
Lokendra Tomar is a flat owner in Indore who allegedly helped destroy crucial evidence after the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi. He has been arrested and is under investigation.
What evidence did the police claim was destroyed?
A black bag allegedly containing a pistol, Sonam’s phone, Raja’s jewelry, and Rs 5 lakh in cash was destroyed. It is said to have been burned with help from the flat’s security guard and property dealer.
When was Raja Raghuvanshi’s body discovered?
Raja’s body was discovered in a gorge on June 2, roughly 10 days after he was believed to have been murdered.
What happened to the phones used during the trip?
Out of four phones carried by the couple, three belonged to Sonam. One phone belonging to Raja was destroyed after the murder. The other three are still missing.
Was this a crime of passion or premeditated?
The available evidence suggests this was a premeditated crime with multiple accomplices, financial motives, and extensive attempts to cover up the crime.
Reference
Owner Of Flat Where Sonam Raghuvanshi
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