Meghalaya honeymoon murder: Probe takes even more disturbing turn; now there are more questions than answers | Explainer
Meghalaya honeymoon murder: An Indore-based couple who had gone to Meghalaya for their honeymoon mysteriously disappeared just days into their trip, triggering a massive search operation across the region. For several days, there was no trace of either of them—until the decomposed body of the husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, was recovered from a remote gorge. Since then, the case has only grown more complex. Now, with his wife Sonam found alive under suspicious circumstances, the investigation has taken an even more tangled and disturbing turn, raising more questions than answers.
The Meghalaya Police has been claiming that Sonam Raghuvanshi orchestrated the murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, by hiring professional contract killers. According to police officials, the hired assassins have been arrested, and Sonam herself surrendered following their capture. However, Sonam’s father has dismissed the police's narrative as a fabricated story and has demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Who are Sonam and Raja Raghuvanshi, and what has happened so far in this high-profile case?
Raja Raghuvanshi was a transport businessman based in Indore, while his 24-year-old wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, worked as an HR professional in her father’s mica company. According to media reports, the two families were introduced through the matrimonial network of the Raghuvanshi community. The couple tied the knot on May 11, 2025. What began as a seemingly happy union soon turned into a case with shocking twists and turns.
The Timeline
May 20, 2025: Just nine days after their wedding, Raja and Sonam left Indore for their honeymoon, heading first to Assam. They visited revered Kamakhya Devi temple in Guwahati.
May 21: The couple reached Shillong, Meghalaya. The following day, they rented a scooter and left for the hill station of Sohra Rim.
May 23 (afternoon): Raja and Sonam reportedly made their final phone calls to their families. After that, all communication ceased.
May 25: Concerned family members filed missing persons reports with the police after confirming they had lost contact with the couple. A joint search operation was launched by police teams from both Indore and Meghalaya.
May 27: Madhya Pradesh Cabinet minister Kailash Vijayvargiya informed Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the missing couple. Meanwhile, MP Chief Minister Mohan Yadav spoke directly with his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma. That same evening, the police recovered two bags from a hilly region during their search operation.
June 2: A drone search in the Wei Sawdong Falls area revealed a decomposing body in a valley beneath the waterfall. The body was later identified as that of Raja Raghuvanshi. No trace of Sonam was found at that time.
June 9: In a major development, the Meghalaya Police announced that the case of the missing honeymoon couple had been cracked. According to police, Sonam had allegedly plotted and executed her husband’s murder by hiring professional killers.
Police claims and arrests
Addressing a press conference, Meghalaya Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang said: “In connection with the murder of an Indore resident in Meghalaya, the police have arrested four persons, including the victim’s wife. The wife was directly involved in the conspiracy and had hired contract killers to eliminate her husband.”
The police has since been claiming that the entire crime was premeditated and meticulously planned by Sonam. Investigators allege that Sonam was in constant contact with the hired assassins and played a central role in the execution of the murder plot.
Why questions being raised about police’s version?
Despite the police’s confident assertion of having cracked the case, Sonam’s father has publicly refuted their theory. He has described the Meghalaya Police’s narrative as entirely concocted and lacking credibility. Questioning the legitimacy of the investigation, he has called for the matter to be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation for an impartial and thorough probe.
His appeal has found support among some sections of the public, who argue that such a high-profile and sensitive case involving multiple jurisdictions demands a neutral and transparent investigation.
संकट की इस घड़ी में मध्यप्रदेश श्रीमती सोनम रघुवंशी के परिवार के साथ खड़ा है। मैंने इस संबंध में मेघालय के मुख्यमंत्री से चर्चा की है। मध्यप्रदेश के वरिष्ठ पुलिस अधिकारी मेघालय के अधिकारियों के साथ निरंतर संपर्क में हैं। इस प्रकरण में सीबीआई जाँच आदेशित करने हेतु मैंने माननीय… — Dr Mohan Yadav (@DrMohanYadav51) June 7, 2025
What next? Will case be transferred to the CBI?
While the Meghalaya Police have made arrests and laid out their version of the events, the demand for a CBI investigation continues to grow louder, especially from the family of the accused. Given the inter-state nature of the case, involvement of contract killers, and the possible presence of larger conspiracies, a decision on whether the case will be handed over to the CBI may depend on recommendations from higher authorities, including the central government. For now, the case remains under the jurisdiction of the Meghalaya Police.
Key unanswered questions on Meghalaya Police's murder theory
Lack of clear motive behind the murder
While Meghalaya DGP Idashisha Nongrang has said that Sonam allegedly hired contract killers to murder her husband Raja Raghuvanshi, the motive behind this drastic step remains unexplained. What compelled Sonam to allegedly orchestrate her husband's killing? According to Sonam’s father, Devi Singh, and Raja’s brother, Vipin Raghuvanshi, the couple married willingly and appeared happy.
If Sonam indeed plotted the murder, what was her plan post-crime? The absence of motive undermines the credibility of the police's theory.
Initial investigation appeared negligent
Sonam’s father has accused the Meghalaya Police of being negligent in the early stages of the investigation, especially regarding efforts to locate his missing daughter. The family had been consistently appealing for a CBI inquiry, citing slow progress and lack of communication.
Vipin Raghuvanshi revealed that they repeatedly tried contacting Shillong SP Vivek Syiem, who failed to respond. For four days, his phone was reportedly switched off.
Vipin says: “Until Sonam confesses herself, we will not consider her guilty.”
Suspicion of involvement of local elements
The victim's family initially suspected the involvement of local people in Raja’s murder. Vipin Raghuvanshi stated that locals had warned them about incidents where visiting couples were targeted — the man killed and the woman trafficked. He alleged that hotel staff, local guides, and scooter rental service providers could be complicit in the crime.
Sonam’s own account to a dhabha owner: Robbery gone wrong?
Sonam was later found at a roadside eatery in Uttar Pradesh. According to the owner, Sahil Yadav, she gave a completely different version of events.
Sonam reportedly told him that Raja had tried to stop robbers who were stealing jewellery in Shillong, and in the scuffle, the robbers killed him.
This contradicts the police theory of a premeditated murder-for-hire plot and suggests an alternative possibility of robbery leading to homicide.
Confusion over Sonam’s 'surrender'
There is a discrepancy between what the Meghalaya Police and the Uttar Pradesh Police say about Sonam's reappearance. Meghalaya Police claims Sonam surrendered at the Nandganj police station in Uttar Pradesh. In contrast, UP Police states that Sonam was “recovered,” not surrendered.
Sahil Yadav, owner of the dhaba in Ghazipur district where Sonam was found, said she borrowed a phone to call her family and broke down in tears. A woman at the eatery consoled her. Sonam’s brother called back and asked Sahil to inform the police, leading to her being taken into custody. This raises the critical question: Did Sonam voluntarily surrender, or was she found and rescued?
All accused arrested within just 10 hours: Too convenient?
Raja and Sonam had been missing since May 23. Raja’s body was discovered on June 2, following which the Meghalaya Police formed an SIT. During the following seven days of investigation, Sonam was treated as a missing person, not a suspect. Suddenly, around 3 am on June 9, Sonam resurfaced, allegedly surrendering. Simultaneously, two suspects were arrested in Indore and one in Sagar. By 12 noon on June 9, a fourth accused was also arrested in Bina, Madhya Pradesh. All these developments happened within 10 hours, raising questions about: Whether the investigation truly advanced independently, or if arrests were pre-coordinated? Was there external pressure or a need to rapidly close the case?
What evidence points to Sonam’s involvement in Raja Raghuvanshi’s murder?
As the Meghalaya Police continues its investigation into the murder of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, six major developments and observations—backed by police findings and media reports—are fueling suspicion that his wife, Sonam, may have orchestrated the killing.
Here's a breakdown of the key indicators raising doubts:
Sonam insisted on the honeymoon trip and booked the tickets herself: According to Raja’s mother, Uma Raghuvanshi, there was no discussion in the family about a honeymoon trip to Shillong after the wedding. Sonam pushed strongly for the trip, while Raja was reluctant. Eventually, Raja told his mother, “Sonam has already booked the tickets, what can I do now?” The family relented, thinking it was a short six- or seven-day vacation.
Importantly, Sonam did not book return tickets, raising suspicion that this might have been a pre-planned move and part of a larger conspiracy.
Local guide claimed three others were seen with the couple: A tour guide told the police that on May 23, he saw Raja and Sonam accompanied by three unidentified individuals between Nongriat and Mawlyngkhat.
He said four of them were walking ahead, and Sonam was slightly behind. They were speaking in Hindi, which he did not understand. These individuals have not yet been formally identified.
However, the police reportedly used Albert’s statement to break the case and trace and arrest the suspects, implying these three might have been accomplices in the crime.
Alleged affair between Sonam and accused Raj Kushwaha: One of the arrested suspects, Raj Kushwaha, worked at Sonam’s father’s company. Sources claim Sonam and Raj knew each other for a long time and were allegedly involved in a relationship. This potential motive—an extramarital affair—could explain why Sonam may have wanted to eliminate Raja.
Sonam was found without a single injury: When Sonam was found at a roadside eatery in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, she told the owner, Sahil Yadav, that she and her husband were attacked during a robbery. She claimed her husband was killed by the robbers while she escaped.
After she was handed over to police, a preliminary medical examination was conducted at the district hospital.
Priyanka Prajapati, in charge of the One Stop Centre where Sonam was taken, confirmed: “There were no visible injury marks on her body.” This raises key questions: If there was a violent robbery, why was Sonam entirely unscathed? How did she travel over 1,100 km from Meghalaya to Uttar Pradesh without alerting authorities?
Sonam allegedly insisted Raja wear Rs 10 lakh worth of jewellery: When Raja’s body was discovered, it was missing the jewellery he had taken with him, including: a gold chain, a gold bracelet and a diamond ring. According to Uma Raghuvanshi: “I saw Raja wearing the gold chain before he left. I asked him why he was taking it on a trip. He told me Sonam wanted him to wear it.” The jewellery estimated value was around Rs 10 lakh.
This has led the family to believe that the valuables may have been a targeted motive, possibly to fund the crime or escape.
She also mentioned that prior to the marriage, Raja had told her that Sonam wasn’t showing interest in him. It was only after Uma personally spoke to Sonam that things improved, and the marriage was finalised.
Postmortem report indicates a premeditated murder: Media sources claim that Raja’s postmortem revealed blunt force trauma: He suffered two head injuries — one from the front and one from behind. The weapon used was recovered on June 3. According to Meghalaya Police: It was a sharp-edged tool used for cutting wood, but appeared brand new. Investigators suspect it was purchased specifically for the murder. The combination of head wounds and the type of weapon suggest the crime was deliberate, planned, and executed from close range.
- With inputs from agencies
