Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi was murdered during his honeymoon in Meghalaya. His wife, Sonam, accused of plotting the crime with her lover, surrendered under police pressure. As the investigation unfolds, families demand a CBI probe, raising questions about police handling and hidden truths in this shocking murder case.
In a shocking twist that has gripped the nation, the honeymoon of Indore-based couple Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi ended in tragedy when Raja was found murdered in a gorge in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills. What initially appeared to be a missing person case has now exploded into a multi-state criminal investigation involving contract killers, a suspected extramarital affair, and serious accusations against law enforcement.
Raja and Sonam, newlyweds from Indore, had travelled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon in May 2025. On May 23, they reportedly went missing while exploring tourist destinations in the state. A massive search operation was launched across Meghalaya and neighbouring states. Ten days later, Raja’s lifeless body was discovered in a deep gorge near the Weisawdong Parking Lot at Riat Arliang. A machete, believed to be the murder weapon, was found nearby.
Simultaneously, Sonam also went missing, prompting suspicions and raising the stakes of the investigation. Initially believed to be a case of abduction or foul play involving unknown individuals, the mystery took a darker turn when new revelations emerged.
According to sources close to the investigation, Sonam Raghuvanshi was allegedly involved in an extramarital affair with a man named Raj Kushwaha, who was reportedly five years younger than her. The two were said to be romantically involved even before her marriage to Raja.
Call detail records revealed frequent communication between Sonam and Raj, which eventually led to Raj’s arrest during a joint operation by Indore and Shillong police. Investigators now believe that the affair may have been the motive behind a premeditated murder plot.
Sonam allegedly conspired with Raj Kushwaha to have her husband killed during their honeymoon. Reports indicate that she deliberately chose Meghalaya as the destination and booked only one-way tickets, raising suspicions of prior planning.
On June 9, police confirmed that Sonam had surrendered at Nandganj police station in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur district under immense investigative pressure. She was tracked down to a dhaba along the Varanasi-Ghazipur road. After medical examination at Sadar Hospital, she was placed in protective custody at the One Stop Centre in Ghazipur.
Simultaneously, three alleged contract killers—identified as Vicky Thakur, Akash, and Anand—were arrested. These individuals were allegedly hired by Sonam and Raj Kushwaha to carry out Raja’s murder.
Indore police, acting on a request from Meghalaya authorities, confirmed that two of the arrested—Raj Kushwaha and Akash—were apprehended from Indore, while a third, Vishal Chauhan, was picked up from Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh.
A total of four individuals, including Sonam, are now in custody, while one more suspect remains absconding.
In an official statement, Meghalaya Inspector Gene
ral of Police (IGP) Dalton P. Marak confirmed the arrest and stated, “Sonam surrendered under pressure last night, bringing the total number of arrests to four. She will be brought back to Meghalaya for judicial proceedings.”
Meghalaya DGP Idashisha Nongrang emphasized that the investigation remains active, with ongoing interrogations and searches in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to apprehend the remaining accused. The Special Investigation Team (SIT), supported by national and local law enforcement agencies, has led coordinated raids and data tracking efforts.
Acknowledging the police’s work, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Within 7 days a major breakthrough has been achieved… the female has surrendered and operation still on to catch 1 more assailant. Well done.”
While police statements paint a grim picture of Sonam as the mastermind of a sinister plot, her family firmly denies the allegations. Sonam’s father, Devi Singh Raghuvanshi, has accused the Meghalaya Police of framing his daughter to cover up their mishandling of the case.
“She’s innocent. I know my daughter. She couldn’t have done this,” he said in an emotional press interaction. He claimed that Sonam had reached out to her brother after seeking help from a dhaba owner, which led to her being located—not because of police efforts, but family intervention.
He has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry and even appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure a fair and transparent investigation.
Similarly, Sonam’s mother, Sangita, while expressing grief over Raja’s death, said, “Now we just want to know who really killed Raja. Allegations are being made, and unfortunately, we will have to face all of it. Let the investigation reveal the truth.”
Vipul, Raja’s brother, has also questioned the investigation’s direction. While the Meghalaya Police claim to have cracked the case, he says the family has not received the post-mortem report. “Until Sonam confesses, we can’t accept their theory,” he said.
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Both families—those of Raja and Sonam—have accused Meghalaya authorities of ignoring key evidence, such as CCTV footage and GPS data from a rented scooty that allegedly showed the presence of multiple individuals with the couple before they went missing.
They allege that early leads were overlooked and the case only gained urgency after media and public attention increased.
The high-profile nature of the case and conflicting narratives from the police and the families involved have led to widespread calls for a CBI probe. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has formally appealed to the Union Home Minister to initiate an independent inquiry.
Yadav stated, “Only a central investigation can ensure justice in a case where both the lives and reputations of people across two states are at stake.”
The case continues to evolve rapidly. With Sonam now in custody and set to be brought to Meghalaya for court proceedings, more details are expected to emerge. The interrogation of the accused may shed light on whether this was a well-orchestrated murder or a tragic misunderstanding now mired in legal confusion and media sensationalism.
The Meghalaya Police have asked the public and media to refrain from speculating and allow the investigation to proceed. They’ve reiterated that justice will be served.
However, with families demanding a federal probe and pointing fingers at local law enforcement, the spotlight remains sharply focused on Meghalaya Police, who now must balance transparency with confidentiality as they bring this chilling case to its conclusion.
