The honeymoon trip of Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife, Sonam, from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, to Meghalaya has taken a shocking turn with Sonam's arrest in connection with her husband's murder. The couple had gone missing on May 23, 2025, during their honeymoon in the East Khasi Hills area, triggering an extensive search operation.
On June 2, Raja's body was discovered in a gorge near Cherrapunji, approximately 20 kilometers from their homestay. The discovery prompted Raja's family to appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry, expressing concerns about the Meghalaya police's handling of the case.
Adding a twist to the already grim situation, Sonam was apprehended in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. Meghalaya Director General of Police (DGP) Idashisha Nongrang revealed that Sonam allegedly orchestrated her husband's murder by hiring contract killers. Three additional suspects from Madhya Pradesh were also arrested in connection with the case.
According to police reports, Sonam surrendered at the Nandganj police station in Uttar Pradesh and was subsequently arrested. Simultaneously, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) apprehended two more accused individuals from Indore. DGP Nongrang stated that the arrested men confessed that Sonam had hired them to kill Raja Raghuvanshi.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma lauded the police for their swift action in cracking the case. He announced the arrests via his X account, noting that the operation to apprehend one more assailant is still underway.
The couple's last known contact with family was on May 23 when Sonam sent an audio message to Raja's mother, mentioning their hike. Their rented scooter was later found abandoned near a ditch. A tourist guide reported seeing the couple with three Hindi-speaking men on the day they disappeared, with Sonam trailing behind, adding another layer of complexity to the investigation.
New CCTV footage surfaced, showing Raja and Sonam arriving at a Shillong homestay on May 22, a day before they went missing. The video depicted them interacting normally, with Raja handling the registration and Sonam fixing her hair. The white shirt Sonam was wearing in the CCTV footage was later found near Raja's body.
As the investigation progresses, authorities are delving deeper into the circumstances surrounding Raja's murder and Sonam's alleged involvement. The focus remains on uncovering the complete truth behind this tragic honeymoon.
