Shillong (Meghalaya) [India], June 10 : Meghalaya Minister Alexander Laloo Hek on Tuesday demanded a defamation case against those who "tarnished" the image of the state in the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case.
Speaking to ANI, Alexander Laloo Hek said, "Before the decomposed body of Raja Raghuvanshi was found, social media, national media and families of Sonam and Raja Raghuvanshi tarnished the image of Meghalaya."
"They defamed my state, Meghalaya Police, Government of Meghalaya and the public of the state. So, I was hurt...How will we tolerate such nonsense of tarnishing or maligning the image of Meghalaya? Police have done an excellent job. Truth has prevailed in 5 days...There should be the strictest punishment for a murder case. There should also be a defamation case against them for defaming us, otherwise they have to apologise," he added.
Earlier today, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), Indore, Rajesh Dandotiya, said four accused have been arrested in the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case.
The four accused have been identified as Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, Raj Singh Kushwaha, and Anand.
The DCP said all four will be taken to Shillong following the completion of transit remand formalities later today.
"All four accused are currently in the Indore Police Commissionerate. The Shillong Police interrogated them. The transit remand of the three accused was taken yesterday. Today, the fourth accused has been arrested. Shillong Police will take all four accused with them today after taking transit remand," Dandotiya told ANI.
The Meghalaya Police earlier brought the prime accused and the wife of the deceased, Sonam Raghuvanshi, to Phulwari Sarif police station in Bihar's Patna after receiving her three-day transit remand.
A senior Uttar Pradesh police official said Sonam was found near a dhaba on the Varanasi-Ghazipur main road.
The UP police kept her at the Sakhi One Stop Centre in Ghazipur. After the arrival of the Meghalaya Police, she was taken to the District Hospital for a medical examination.
Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife, Sonam, both residents of Madhya Pradesh's Indore, had gone missing during their honeymoon in the northeastern state of Meghalaya. Raja Raghuvanshi's body was later recovered in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district.