‘Human sacrifice at Kamakhya’: False claim lands TV anchor, Raja Raghuvanshi's cousin in trouble with Guwahati police

Guwahati police summon news anchor and Shrishti Raghuvanshi over ‘defamatory’ claims about the Hindu shrine during a live interview

Updated on: Jul 3, 2025, 18:54:48 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

A news TV anchor has landed in trouble with the police over a false claim of “nar bali (human sacrifice)” at the Kamakhya temple in Assam, during a live conversation with a cousin of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, who was murdered allegedly by his wife and her lover during their honeymoon in Meghalaya earlier this year.

Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati is among the most prominent Hindu shrines. (PTI File)

The Guwahati Police Crime Branch summoned the news anchor along with Shrishti Raghuvanshi, a female cousin of Raja Raghuvanshi, over the alleged defamatory statement about the revered Hindu shrine, news agency ANI reported. The anchor and the channel were not named in the agency report.

After the FIR was filed on charges of hurting religious sentiments, both the anchor and Raja Raghuvanshi's cousin were asked to appear before the investigation officer on June 23 and 24, but they have not done so till date, according to Ankur Jain, Joint Police Commissioner, Guwahati City Police.

What happened on air

The anchor, reported to be from a prominent English news channel, was interviewing Shrishti about Raja's initial disappearance in Meghalaya – the murder came to light later – when the anchor claimed that human sacrifice was carried out at as a practice at the temple in Meghalaya's neighbouring state of Assam. Shrishti purportedly agreed with the anchor's remarks during the live broadcast, the police said according to a report by NDTV.

As outrage followed the false claims and the apparent suggestion that Raja may have been “sacrificed”, the channel and Shrishti apologised for a “complete error of judgment”.

Sonam and Raja Raghuvanshi got married on May 11 and went for their honeymoon to Meghalaya just days later.

The FIR said the anchor and Shrishti could not cite any source, religious authority or historical validation for their false claim. The anchor clearly presented the information as fact, it added.

Case dominated headlines

The murder of Raja Raghuvanshi made headlines for weeks as police investigation said Raja, 29, was murdered by his wife Sonam, 24, just days after they had left hometown Indore for their honeymoon in Meghalaya in May. Sonam, her alleged lover Raj and their accomplices killed Raja, police found.

After an intense search for Sonam, who was reported missing while Raja's body was found, she resurfaced and surrendered. Raj and the three accomplices had already been arrested by then.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.