The investigation into the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, who was found dead in Meghalaya during his honeymoon, has taken a significant turn with his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, and her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha, being sent to police custody until June 19. The case, which initially appeared as a tragic accident, has unraveled into a complex web of deceit, conspiracy, and alleged contract killing.
Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi married on May 11, 2025, and embarked on their honeymoon to Meghalaya shortly after. However, according to police officials, Sonam and Raj had allegedly planned Raja's murder even before the wedding. It's alleged that Sonam paid ₹20 lakhs to three contract killers to carry out the crime.
On May 23, the couple went for a trek in Cherrapunji. They were accompanied by a local tour guide and were later joined by three men, believed to be the contract killers. The tour guide noticed the men speaking in Hindi, but couldn't understand their conversation. According to Indore police, Raj Kushwaha was not present in Meghalaya to avoid suspicion, while the other suspects Anand, Akash, and Vishal accompanied Sonam and Raja.
The case saw multiple twists after the couple was reported missing on May 23. Initially, there was criticism towards the Meghalaya government for not acting swiftly. On June 2, Raja's body was discovered in a gorge near a waterfall in Sohra, East Khasi Hills district. Investigators believe the murder occurred on the same day the couple went missing.
Sonam Raghuvanshi surrendered to the authorities in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. Meghalaya Police took her into custody. In a surprising turn, Sonam claimed that she and Raja were attacked, and he died protecting her from robbers who attempted to steal her jewelry. She claimed to have lost consciousness and had no idea how she reached Ghazipur. However, police have dismissed her version of events, suspecting it to be fabricated and part of a larger conspiracy.
Meghalaya's Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong, stated that some suspects have confessed to the crime and that Sonam Raghuvanshi is "fully involved". Some reports suggest Sonam was prepared to push Raja off a cliff herself if the hired killers failed.
Meanwhile, Additional SP East Khasi Hills, Ashish, dismissed reports of Sonam confessing to the murder, stating that the information in the public domain is not concrete and that the investigation is still in its initial stages. SP East Khasi Hills, Vivek Syiem, mentioned that a thorough investigation will commence in Shillong, where the crime occurred. He added that the police have adequate evidence of Sonam's involvement and that further details will emerge later.
The other accused, including Raj Kushwaha, Akash Rajput, and Vishal Singh Chauhan, have been placed on transit remand. Anand, another suspect, was brought to Indore from Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district.
The post-mortem results revealed that Raja suffered two serious head injuries, leading investigators to believe the murder was premeditated. Authorities are working to piece together the sequence of events.
Indore Additional DCP (Crime) Rajesh Dandotiya confirmed that the four men arrested are between 20 and 25 years old. Raj Kushwaha worked as an accountant in Sonam's office, while Vishal and Anand are students, and Akash is currently unemployed. None of them has a prior criminal record.
As Sonam and Raj Kushwaha are now in police custody until June 19, further investigations are underway to uncover the complete truth behind Raja Raghuvanshi's murder, a case that has become a shocking tale of love, betrayal, and a meticulously planned crime.
