Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder Case: In a key development in the murder case of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, the Meghalaya Police will present his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, and the other accused before a local court on Wednesday. A special investigation team (SIT), which is handling the case under the codename 'Operation Honeymoon', confirmed this move following a series of evidence collection drives in Indore (Madhya Pradesh) and Ghazipur (Uttar Pradesh).

A senior police official told PTI, “We have collected additional evidence from the homes of Sonam and other accused involved in the murder of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi in both Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.”

On Tuesday, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma praised the state police for swiftly cracking the case and confirmed that “solid evidence” points to the involvement of the tourist’s wife in the crime.

Honeymoon Turns Fatal

The 24-year-old Sonam Raghuvanshi is accused of plotting and executing the murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon. The couple had reached Meghalaya on May 20 and were reported missing on May 23 after checking out of their homestay. Raja’s body, bearing fatal head injuries, was recovered from a gorge on June 2.

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Five days after the body was identified, Sonam surrendered to police in Ghazipur, UP. Investigations have so far led to the arrest of five individuals, including Sonam’s alleged lover Raj Kushwaha, Akash Rajput from Uttar Pradesh’s Lalitpur, and Anand Kurmi from Sagar in Madhya Pradesh.

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Major Findings In Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder Case

  • CM Conrad Sangma has publicly stated that there is compelling evidence pointing to Sonam’s role in her husband’s murder.
  • Assistant Commissioner of Police Poonam Chand Yadav said, “All four accused have confessed to killing Raja Raghuvanshi.” He added, “The first blow was struck by Vishal alias Vicky Thakur.”
  • A police official, on condition of anonymity, told HT that the conspiracy may have been hatched before Sonam and Raja’s wedding on May 11.
  • Indore police also revealed that Raj Kushwaha deliberately avoided travelling to Meghalaya to dodge suspicion.
  • Reports indicate Sonam and Raj met at her family’s plywood business where Raj joined as a supervisor and Sonam worked in HR. At the time, Raj used to address her as “Didi”.
  • After the murder, Sonam allegedly posted from Raja’s phone to create an illusion that he was still alive. In one such post, she wrote, “Saat janmon ka saath hai (Together for seven lives).”
  • Raja’s brother, Vipin Raghuvanshi, said, “Raja was hit with a weapon. He was attacked by four people, including his wife Sonam.”
  • A pregnancy test on Sonam was deemed “inconclusive” during a medical evaluation. Doctors have suggested an ultrasound next week.
  • Uma Raghuvanshi, the victim’s mother, claimed Sonam took Rs 9 lakh and jewellery before the trip and never booked return tickets.
  • Eyewitnesses reported that accused Raj Kushwaha even drove a vehicle transporting people to Raja’s funeral.
  • Sonam was apprehended at 'Kashi Dhaba' on the Varanasi-Ghazipur road. Rajput, Chauhan, and Kushwaha were arrested in separate operations across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
  • Sonam tried to portray herself as a victim, alleging she was drugged and taken to Ghazipur against her will.
  • A tour guide who saw Raja and Sonam during a trek reported the presence of three Hindi-speaking men, triggering suspicion of outsider involvement in the crime.
  • A local guide who had accompanied the couple during their trek said he saw them with three Hindi-speaking men, leading police to suspect outside involvement in the crime.
  • Police discovered frequent encrypted communication between Sonam and Kushwaha before and during the honeymoon, according to News18.
  • The murder weapon, a dao (machete) was recovered near Raja’s body in Sohra. It was not a traditional Khasi weapon, suggesting it was brought from Guwahati.
  • A News18 Hindi report claims Sonam watched her husband being killed, returned to Indore the next day, and spent time with Kushwaha before fleeing to UP.
  • The autopsy confirmed that Raja sustained fatal injuries to both the front and back of his head.
  • After the murder, the three accomplices returned to Indore by train, while Sonam travelled by bus to Varanasi and then to Ghazipur.
  • Raj Kushwaha’s mother claimed her son is being falsely framed. Meanwhile, Raja’s brother alleged that Sonam’s mother was aware of her daughter’s affair and kept it hidden from the family.
  • According to police sources, on May 23, Sonam lured Raja to a remote hilltop in the Korsa area under the pretext of a photoshoot. She pretended to be tired and stayed back while Raja went ahead with the three men. When they hesitated to kill him, she reportedly took Rs 15,000 from Raja’s wallet and told them, “You have to kill him,” also promising them Rs 20 lakh for the murder.