The honeymoon trip to Meghalaya for Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi, a newly married couple from Indore, has taken a dark and tragic turn. Sonam Raghuvanshi has been arrested, suspected of orchestrating her husband Raja's murder with the help of contract killers. The Meghalaya police have made significant progress in the case, arresting Sonam and three others in connection with the crime.
The couple had checked into a homestay in Nongriat village, East Khasi Hills, on May 22, 2025. They were reported missing after checking out on May 23. A week later, on June 2, Raja's body was discovered in a gorge near Sohra, approximately 20 kilometers from their homestay. The discovery of a local cutting tool (dao) near the body, identified as the murder weapon, led the police to launch a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case as a murder.
According to Meghalaya Director General of Police (DGP) I. Nongrang, Sonam allegedly hired the contract killers to murder her husband. She was apprehended in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, and three other suspects were arrested in overnight raids conducted in Uttar Pradesh and Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The DGP stated that the arrested men confessed to being hired by Sonam to commit the murder. Police are continuing their operations in Madhya Pradesh to apprehend any other individuals involved.
Inspector General of Police (Law and Order), Dalton P Marak, told IANS that Sonam "surrendered under pressure" late Sunday night. He added that she would be brought back to Meghalaya for court proceedings.
Adding a crucial piece to the puzzle, a local guide named Albert Pde, who the couple had initially turned down, provided vital testimony. Pde recalled seeing Raja and Sonam with three Hindi-speaking men on May 23, climbing the 3,000 steps back to Mawlakhiat. He noted that the men were walking ahead, while Sonam followed behind them. This statement helped the police track down the suspects.
The motive behind the alleged murder appears to be an affair Sonam was reportedly having. Sources indicate that Sonam hired the contract killers to eliminate her husband.
While police investigations point towards Sonam's involvement, her family strongly refutes the allegations. Her father, Devi Singh, maintains his daughter's innocence and demands an independent inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He claims that the Meghalaya government is "lying" and that his daughter is incapable of committing such an act. He stated that Sonam had contacted her brother at a dhaba in Ghazipur, after which the police took her into custody.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has lauded the police for their swift action in cracking the case. He acknowledged the breakthrough achieved by the Meghalaya Police in the Raja murder case and commended the arrest of the three assailants from Madhya Pradesh, as well as Sonam's surrender.
The investigation continues, with authorities probing the motive and timeline of the crime. The police are also analyzing CCTV footage from various locations to piece together the events leading up to Raja's murder. The tragic incident has shocked both Meghalaya and Indore, prompting calls for a thorough and impartial investigation to ensure justice for Raja Raghuvanshi.
