Indore couple case: Govt says CBI probe not relevant at this stage

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 8, 2025

MDA government spokesman and cabinet minister in-charge tourism Paul Lyngdoh on Saturday said the government will not defend any criminal element – whether from within or from outside the state – involved in the recent murder of a tourist from Indore, Madhya Pradesh Raja Raghuvanshi, who along with his wife Sonam went missing while on a honeymoon to Sohra.

Responding to a query on the demand of the couple’s family for a CBI probe into the case, Lyngdoh said, “Well I think let us go step by step. Now after the police investigation we have also additionally set up a special investigation team (SIT) and Meghalaya police is known for its track record of competence and at this stage I don’t see the relevance of a CBI probe.”

“However, should this investigation fail then we take the next logical step. We will not defend; we will not protect any criminal element whether from within or from outside the state,” he assured.

Lyngdoh said it is a very sad and strange incident because Sohra-Cherrapunjee has never witnessed any crime against tourists in so many decades of its growth as a tourist destination.

“It is shocking and while we condole this death of Raja, I like to also point out here that tourists have always been welcomed in Meghalaya in Cherrapunjee in particular which is the epicentre of our tourism industry,” he stated.

He also claimed that no tourist has ever been assaulted ever and as we speak tourists are still flocking to Cherrapunjee.

“Right after this incident, we thought people would start fleeing Cherrapunjee but the opposite is happening and you have travelled yourself yesterday to Cherrapunjee and you would have noticed thousands of tourists and why would people kick the plate that serve them food. I don’t see any point there,” the minister argued.

Further, Lyngdoh urged all concerned to wait for the completion of the SIT investigation.

“I will not jump the gun, I will only say let the SIT investigation be completed and I am confident we have a very capable DGP who has had several years of experience in Delhi. We have an IPS officer leading the East Khasi Hills district police, they are all competent officers,” he said.

He concluded by reiterating that “in general you would have noticed that you don’t see any drunken brawls, unruly behaviours by the local people here in Meghalaya.”