Shillong/Guwahati, June 9: In a chilling twist to what began as a romantic honeymoon in the scenic hills of Meghalaya, the mysterious disappearance of Indore-based couple Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi has culminated in a shocking murder plot spanning three states — Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
The prime accused, 24-year-old Sonam Raghuvanshi, was arrested in Uttar Pradesh after being found at a roadside dhaba on the Varanasi-Ghazipur highway. According to Meghalaya Police, Sonam allegedly orchestrated a contract killing of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon in Cherrapunji (Sohra), with help from her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha, an employee at her father’s plywood factory.
What We Know So Far
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Missing Since May 23: The couple was last seen vacationing in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district. While Raja’s body was discovered on June 2 deep inside a gorge, Sonam had been missing since then.
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Murder for Love?: Meghalaya Police claim the murder was motivated by Sonam’s extramarital affair with Raj Kushwaha, who is reportedly five years younger and has now been arrested by Indore Police.
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Grisly Details: The autopsy revealed multiple stab wounds on Raja’s body, with two major injuries — one on the front and one on the back of his head.
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Contradictions Galore: Sonam’s father has refuted police claims, alleging that his daughter was abducted and robbed, not involved in any murder conspiracy. He has demanded a CBI investigation, accusing Meghalaya Police of fabricating evidence.
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Mental Health Questions: A dhaba owner who found Sonam claimed she appeared “mentally disturbed,” wept while speaking to family, and claimed her husband was “killed in a robbery.”
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Police Operation Across 3 States: Meghalaya Police, aided by authorities in Indore and Ghazipur, have arrested four accused so far, with one more believed to be absconding.
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No Return Tickets Booked: Raja’s brother Vipul Raghuvanshi revealed that the couple hadn’t booked any return tickets and said Sonam and Raj Kushwaha were in constant contact over the phone before the trip.
Official Statements and Political Reactions
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma praised the swift action of state police. “Within 7 days, a major breakthrough has been achieved… the operation is still on,” he posted on X.
Cabinet Minister A.L. Hek condemned the “unfair blaming” of Meghalaya and its police. “Those maligning the state’s image must be held accountable. Our police deserve full credit.”
Meanwhile, Meghalaya Police are en route to Uttar Pradesh to take Sonam into transit remand. Investigations are ongoing in Indore to trace the final accused.
NETV Investigation in Progress
NETV will continue to track developments in this case, which has raised serious concerns about inter-state criminal conspiracies, misuse of travel for crime, and mental health red flags missed in time.
