The honeymoon murder case that has gripped the nation took a significant turn when Meghalaya police revealed a crucial clue that led them to suspect Sonam Raghuvanshi in the death of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi. According to Meghalaya's Director General of Police (DGP) I Nongrang, Sonam's 'mangalsutra,' a traditional necklace symbolizing marriage, played a pivotal role in unraveling the alleged crime.
Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi, residents of Indore, had traveled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon shortly after their wedding on May 11, 2025. The couple's disappearance on May 23 triggered an investigation, which later turned into a murder case when Raja's body was discovered in a gorge near Weisawdong Falls on June 2.
According to reports, the couple visited a homestay in Sohra on May 22 without any prior booking. As they couldn't secure a room, they decided to leave their suitcase at the homestay to avoid the inconvenience of carrying it during their trek to the double-decker root bridge in Nongriat village. The couple spent the night at a homestay in Nongriat and checked out early on May 23. After trekking back to Sohra, they picked up their scooter and headed towards Weisawdong Falls. It was there that Raja was allegedly murdered by three contract killers in the presence of his wife.
DGP Nongrang stated that the discovery of Sonam's 'mangalsutra' and a ring in the suitcase abandoned at the Sohra homestay raised immediate suspicion. "We recovered Sonam's 'mangalsutra' and a ring from the suitcase the couple abandoned at a homestay in Sohra," DGP Nongrang said. "A married woman leaving behind the ornaments gave us a clue to pursue her as a suspect in the case," he added. Deputy Inspector General DNR Marak echoed this sentiment, questioning why a newly married woman would leave her 'mangalsutra' behind during her honeymoon.
The police investigation revealed a chilling conspiracy allegedly orchestrated by Sonam in collaboration with her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha, and three contract killers. The accused have reportedly confessed to the crime. According to the police, Sonam took Raja out from their homestay under the pretext of taking some scenic photos and stopped their scooty at a deserted place. She walked a bit forward pretending to click photos, and the contract killers then came from behind and killed Raja. The killers transported his body to Mawlakhiat and dumped it in a gorge.
Sonam was apprehended and has offered differing accounts, initially claiming she was kidnapped and that Raja died trying to protect her from an attack. Police, however, suspect her version is fabricated and part of a larger conspiracy. On June 11, 2025, a Shillong court remanded Sonam, along with Raj Kushwaha and the three alleged hitmen, to eight days of police custody. The case continues to unfold, with authorities piecing together the details of the crime and the motivations behind it.
