The mystery surrounding the disappearance of an Indore couple, Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife Sonam, during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, has deepened with the emergence of new CCTV footage. The couple went missing on May 23, 2025, and the case has taken several twists and turns, including the discovery of Raja's body and the ongoing search for Sonam.
The latest CCTV footage, accessed by news channels, shows Raja and Sonam arriving at a homestay in Shillong on May 22, a day before they were reported missing. The video, which is nearly five minutes long, captures the couple on a rented scooter, pulling up to the Shipara Homestay. Raja is seen parking the scooter, and Sonam is spotted taking out her jacket while Raja hands her something.
According to reports, the couple arrived at Mawlakhiat village on May 22 on a rented scooter and hired a local guide, Bha Wansai, who took them to Shipara Homestay at Nongriat village, where they spent the night. The following morning, they checked out and returned to Mawlakhiat village without the guide. Their whereabouts after leaving Mawlakhiat remained unknown. The rented scooter used by the couple was later found abandoned at Sohrarim.
The footage shows the couple seemingly interacting normally. Raja is seen entering the homestay to speak with the staff at the registration desk, while Sonam waits outside, removing her jacket and fixing her hair. Raja then comes back out, retrieves some items from their white suitcase, and hands them to Sonam.
Notably, the white shirt that Sonam is seen wearing in the CCTV footage was later recovered near Raja's body. On June 2, Raja's body was discovered in a deep gorge below the Wei Sawdong Falls, approximately 20 kilometers from the homestay. A machete, suspected to be the murder weapon, was also recovered near the spot.
The discovery of Raja's body has led the police to register a murder case, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the matter. The Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills, stated that it is a clear case of homicide.
The search for Sonam continues, with multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and a Special Operations Team, involved in the operation. A black raincoat with stains was also found in the search area, but forensic confirmation is still awaited.
Raja's family has demanded a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe into the case, suspecting foul play. They point out that Raja's body was found 25 kilometers away from where the scooter was parked, suggesting that he may have been kidnapped. A poster displayed outside Raja's home in Indore reads, "The soul of Raja appeals to the central and state governments — I didn't die, I was killed. Let the CBI investigate."
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has assured that his government will leave no stone unturned to ensure that those behind the murder are brought to justice. The incident has cast a shadow over tourism in Meghalaya, with concerns raised about the safety and security of visitors.
