Lokendra Singh Tomar, identified as the eighth co-accused in the ongoing Raja Raghuvanshi homicide investigation, was formally presented before a magistrate in Gwalior.
Authorities successfully petitioned for a three-day transit remand to facilitate his transfer to Meghalaya, where the principal inquiry is being pursued.
According to statements from Meghalaya law enforcement, Tomar is alleged to have played a pivotal role in the concealment of a firearm and a substantial sum of money, both deemed evidentiary artifacts. Moreover, he is suspected of obstructing the investigative process through deliberate destruction and manipulation of material evidence.
Planned Transfer & Procedural Formalities
As articulated by Rashid Khan, Officer-in-Charge of the local police station, the logistical trajectory for Tomar’s transfer involves multiple jurisdictions: “Lokendra Kumar was presented in Court. A three-day transit remand has been approved. After his medical test here, he will be taken to Indore, from where he will be flown to Delhi, then to Guwahati, after which he will be taken to Shillong by road.”
The multi-leg route underscores the procedural coordination across state lines and the logistical complexity of high-profile custodial transfers.
Evidentiary Involvement & Interrogative Findings
Assistant District Prosecution Officer Prashant Sharma elaborated on the rationale behind the remand petition: “Lokendra Tomar, an accused in the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case, was presented in court for a three-day transit remand… During interrogation of other accused, it was found that Lokendra Tomar was also involved in tampering of facts and misleading the probe, based on which the police is carrying out an investigation…The accused will be taken to Indore by road, after which he will be taken to Delhi by air.” These allegations suggest that Tomar’s involvement extends beyond ancillary support to potentially deliberate obstruction of justice.
Tomar was detained on Monday by the Crime Branch unit in Gwalior, marking a continuation of arrests in this expanding criminal probe. His apprehension follows the earlier custody of Sonam Raghuvanshi—spouse of the deceased—and her purported collaborators: Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, Raj Singh Kushwaha, and Anand.
Search Operations & Digital Evidence Retrieval
On the evening preceding Tomar’s court appearance, Shillong Police conducted a search and seizure operation at the Indore residence of property agent Shilom James, who is believed to have leased a flat to Sonam Raghuvanshi.
Authorities confiscated a CCTV digital video recorder (DVR), which may provide critical surveillance footage related to the case. James was subsequently arrested on June 21 for his suspected complicity.
Victim’s Kin Call For Expedited Justice
In a public appeal, Govind Raghuvanshi, the brother of the primary accused, Sonam, expressed confidence in the legal process while advocating for stringent punitive measures.
“The police are doing their work. We have demanded that strict action be taken… According to me, the police have investigated the case,” he told ANI. Emphasizing the moral imperative for accountability, he added, “She (Sonam) has confessed to her crime, so now punishment should be given. The police have taken our statements. If the police call us to Shillong, we will go.”
Judicial Detention Of Key Defendants
The District and Sessions Court in Shillong ordered 13-day judicial custody for Sonam Raghuvanshi and co-defendant Raj Kushwaha. Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem verified the court’s decision, while Assistant Public Prosecutor Tushar Chanda clarified that investigative authorities did not request police custody.
“The court has remanded both the accused for 13 days of judicial custody. The police did not ask for custody. The Investigating Officer pleaded for judicial custody. The court granted 13-day judicial custody,” Chanda stated.
The remains of Raja Raghuvanshi, who was reportedly on a honeymoon at the time of his death, were discovered on June 2 in a ravine near Sohra (Cherrapunji). Subsequent investigations led to the recovery of his spouse, Sonam, near the Varanasi-Ghazipur highway.
As of the latest reports, eight individuals have been arrested in connection with this homicide, which continues to unfold as a case of significant legal and public interest.
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