The investigation into the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi in Meghalaya has taken a shocking turn with the revelation that one of the accused, Raj Singh Kushwaha, allegedly helped organize and attended the victim's funeral in Indore. This occurred after Raja's body was discovered in a gorge near Weisawdong Falls, East Khasi Hills district, on June 2nd, ten days after he and his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, went missing during their honeymoon.

According to an eyewitness, Lakshman Singh Rathore, Sonam's family arranged several vehicles for people to attend the funeral in Indore. Rathore stated that Kushwaha was driving one of the vehicles he rode in, though they did not interact. Rathore only recognized Kushwaha after seeing his photograph in the media following his arrest.

The Meghalaya Police have arrested Sonam Raghuvanshi and three alleged accomplices: Raj Singh Kushwaha (21), Akash Rajput (19), and Vishal Singh Chauhan (22). Sonam surrendered to police in Uttar Pradesh, while the others were apprehended in coordinated efforts between Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh police.

East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem stated that Kushwaha is from Indore and was arrested after Rajput and Chauhan. Police reports suggest that Sonam hired the three men.

The timeline of events indicates that Raja and Sonam, who married on May 11th in Indore, traveled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon. They disappeared on May 23rd, shortly after checking out of a homestay in Nongriat village, approximately 20 km from where Raja's body was eventually found.

Following the arrests, outrage erupted in Indore. Locals burned Sonam's photo outside Raja Raghuvanshi's home and displayed a large poster demanding a CBI inquiry into the case. The family had previously appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a CBI investigation. The poster poignantly stated, "I did not die… I was killed."

Further investigation revealed that the murder plan was allegedly hatched on May 16th, just five days after Raja and Sonam's wedding. Police reports from Indore suggest that the hired men followed the couple to Meghalaya, guided by GPS locations shared by Sonam. Authorities believe the murder occurred on May 23rd, after which the accused left Meghalaya. The post-mortem report indicated two cut marks on Raja's head, and the suspected murder weapon, a machete, was recovered.

Meghalaya Home Minister Prestone Tynsong acknowledged the criticism the police faced during the initial search and investigation but praised their hard work in achieving a breakthrough. SP Vivek Syiem stated that substantial evidence implicated both Raj Kushwaha and Sonam in the murder plot, although the motive remains unclear. All the accused are expected to be brought to Shillong on transit remand.

Sonam's father, Devi Singh Raghuvanshi, has denied Kushwaha's involvement and threatened to send a legal notice to the Meghalaya police. However, eyewitness accounts and police deployment outside Sonam's residence suggest the investigation is proceeding based on strong evidence linking her and the other accused to the crime.