Indore (Madhya Pradesh): New updates have surfaced as the investigation intensifies in Raja Raghuvanshi murder case. The Shillong Police SIT has recovered a pistol from a drain behind Industry House in Indore.
The weapon is suspected to belong to Raja’s wife, Sonam, who is one of the main accused in the case.
According to information, the pistol was found inside a white plastic bag. Along with this, the SIT also found ₹1 lakh in cash from a car parked outside the home of Shilom James, a contractor and one of the accused in destroying evidence.
The SIT is currently in Indore, continuing its investigation into the case. On Wednesday, the team brought building owner Lokendra Tomar from Gwalior and took him to the crime branch office.
Contractor Shilom James and security guard Balveer Ahirwar were also taken there. The three were made to sit together and questioned face-to-face.
Police searching for Sonam's laptop now
Police believe Sonam’s laptop, which is still missing, could have key information related to hawala and other illegal money dealings.
According to Shilom, he threw away the laptop without checking it because he knew it could be used as digital evidence. He feared getting caught, so he destroyed the bag and dumped the laptop.
On Tuesday, the Shillong police team reached Indore’s Mahalaxmi Nagar area to search for the laptop. They took along Shilom James, the contractor-broker of the building where Sonam had stayed, and security guard Balveer Ahirwar.
On Wednesday, the police brought building owner Lokendra Tomar to Indore from Gwalior and took all three to the Indore Crime Branch for questioning. The three were made to sit face-to-face for further investigation.
Shilom admitted to police that he threw the laptop away, knowing it was digital evidence that could get him into trouble. He didn’t even open it before discarding it.
After the murder, Sonam stayed at a flat in Indore’s Mahalaxmi Nagar from May 30 to June 7. This flat belonged to Lokendra Tomar. It was rented out by Shilom James about four months ago. Balveer worked there as a guard and carpenter.
After hearing about Raja’s murder, Shilom informed Lokendra that Sonam had stayed in the flat. Lokendra then came to Indore, took a bag from the flat (which reportedly had cash and a pistol), and returned. He later asked Shilom to burn Sonam’s remaining bag. Shilom followed the instructions and destroyed it.
Police have now made Lokendra, Shilom, and Balveer accused of tampering with and destroying evidence. A pistol was also recovered from a white plastic bag near a drain behind Indore’s Industry House. Around ₹1 lakh in cash was found in a car parked outside Shilom’s house.
Court and Investigation Updates
Lokendra Tomar was arrested from Gwalior on June 23 and presented in court on June 24, where he was given 72 hours of police remand. All three accused are currently on transit remand.
Indore Crime Branch’s Additional DCP Rajesh Dandotiya confirmed that Shillong police are questioning the accused, but have not shared details with local police yet.
