The tragic murder of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi during his honeymoon in Meghalaya has taken another startling turn with the emergence of a new name in the ongoing investigation: Jitendra Raghuvanshi. As police delve deeper into the layers of this intricate case, which has already seen the arrest of Raja’s wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha, and three purported hitmen, Jitendra’s connection is now under intense scrutiny, adding a fresh dimension to the unfolding mystery.
Raja Raghuvanshi was found dead in a deep gorge near a waterfall in Sohra, East Khasi Hills district, on June 2, days after he and his wife were reported missing during their honeymoon trip that commenced on May 21. Sonam Raghuvanshi quickly became the prime suspect, with police alleging she orchestrated her husband’s murder, reportedly offering a hefty sum to the killers.
The Unveiling of Jitendra Raghuvanshi’s Role
Jitendra Raghuvanshi’s name first surfaced when investigators discovered that Sonam Raghuvanshi allegedly used his bank account to make initial payments to the hitmen on May 23, the very day Raja was believed to have been murdered. This crucial piece of information has led police to suspect Jitendra’s potential, albeit indirect, involvement or at least his unwitting role as a facilitator in the alleged crime.
According to Sonam’s brother, Govind Raghuvanshi, Jitendra is their maternal cousin. He also revealed that Jitendra is a junior employee in their family business, primarily responsible for tasks like loading and unloading in the godown. Furthermore, Govind stated that Sonam’s UPI account was opened in Jitendra’s name. While he did not elaborate on the reasons for this arrangement, it has undoubtedly raised eyebrows among the investigating authorities.
The Hawala Angle and Family Business Under Scanner
The revelation regarding the use of Jitendra’s account has significantly intensified suspicions, particularly concerning potential hawala transactions. Hawala, an informal system of transferring money, is often associated with illicit financial activities. The fact that Sonam allegedly routed payments through an account linked to a junior employee has brought her family’s business under the scanner for possible hawala connections.
However, Sonam’s brother, Govind Raghuvanshi, has vehemently denied these allegations. He clarified that the account in Jitendra’s name holds money belonging to their family business and is used for regular, day-to-day expenditures. “We don’t have to do anything with hawala. False stories are being cooked up,” Govind was quoted as saying, attempting to dispel the rising doubts.
The Expanding Police Probe
The Indore police have now launched a search for Jitendra Raghuvanshi to question him and ascertain the exact nature of his connection to the financial transactions. Investigations have reportedly uncovered four suspicious current accounts held in Jitendra’s name, through which transactions worth lakhs of rupees have allegedly been made. Police are keen to understand the flow of these funds and their ultimate beneficiaries.
Sources indicate that investigators are also exploring the strong possibility that Raj Kushwaha, Sonam’s alleged lover and a co-accused, might have paid ₹50,000 in cash to the three assassins through a hawala operator before they journeyed to the North East on May 20. The discovery of pictures of broken currency notes on Raj Kushwaha’s phone has further fueled the speculation of a hawala link.
Conclusion
The Meghalaya murder case continues to unravel with new details emerging almost daily. The entry of Jitendra Raghuvanshi’s name into the narrative, coupled with the suspicions surrounding hawala transactions, underscores the complexity of the investigation. As the police continue their probe, questioning individuals and meticulously tracing financial trails, the full truth behind Raja Raghuvanshi’s tragic death is slowly, but surely, coming to light. The focus now remains on Jitendra Raghuvanshi and what his testimony might reveal about the alleged conspiracy.