Punjab Desk:
New twists continue to emerge in the high-profile Raja Raghuvanshi murder case, and now a new name has surfaced in the investigation. According to official sources, the Shillong-based property dealer Silom James is now under the radar of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which suspects his active involvement in both the conspiracy and evidence tampering related to the murder.
Silom James: The New Entry in the Murder Plot
The SIT, which has been working closely with Shillong Police, suspects that Silom James not only helped the accused post-murder but may have been part of the planning as well. In a recent raid conducted in Indore and Ratlam, the SIT recovered a suspicious bag from his residence and his in-laws’ house.
The contents of the bag have raised serious red flags:
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Jewellery items suspected to belong to the deceased
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A laptop potentially containing digital evidence
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A suspected murder weapon, now under forensic examination
Link to the Blood-Soaked Bag
According to SIT sources, after the murder, the prime accused Sonam and her associate Raj handed over the blood-stained bag to Silom for disposal. Investigators believe Silom not only accepted the bag but also helped in hiding it, making him a potential accomplice under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence.
Flat Provided to Killers
In a bigger revelation, the investigation has found that Silom James allegedly arranged a flat for the accused killers in Shillong. This connection further cements his suspected role in facilitating the crime — offering logistical support and possibly acting as a sleeper link between the accused and the planning stage.
A senior SIT officer remarked:
“Providing shelter and helping hide evidence points to a deep-rooted involvement in the crime. This was not a random act of assistance but a planned move to protect the accused.”
Focus Shifts to Digital Evidence
The SIT is now focusing on call records, GPS locations, and digital footprints. Forensic teams are scanning through:
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The recovered laptop’s browser history
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Email records
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Deleted WhatsApp chats
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Cloud-based storage access logs
Silom’s mobile records are also being matched with the timeline of the murder to track communications with Sonam, Raj, and other suspects.
Chargesheet to Be Filed Soon
The SIT has reportedly completed 90% of the investigation, and a formal chargesheet is expected to be filed soon. Silom James’ role is expected to feature prominently, possibly with charges of:
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Criminal conspiracy (IPC Section 120B)
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Harboring criminals (IPC Section 212)
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Destruction of evidence (IPC Section 201)
A legal expert commenting on the case said:
“If the weapon in the recovered bag is proven to be the murder weapon, Silom could face charges almost equivalent to that of the prime accused.”
Case Timeline Overview
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Murder of Raja Raghuvanshi: Found brutally killed under mysterious circumstances.
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Sonam and Raj: Main accused, currently in judicial custody.
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Bag Transfer: Blood-stained bag reportedly handed over to Silom post-murder.
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Property Link: Silom arranged accommodation for the killers.
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Digital Trail: SIT tracing phone, laptop and online interactions.
What’s Next?
The case, already filled with complex layers of deceit and betrayal, now hinges on the digital and forensic analysis of evidence recovered from Silom’s properties. If linked conclusively, Silom’s arrest may redefine the entire narrative of the case, shifting the perception from an isolated murder to a pre-planned conspiracy with multiple facilitators.
