A major breakthrough has emerged in the mysterious disappearance and murder of newlywed Raja Raghuvanshi from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, who was killed while on honeymoon in Meghalaya. His wife, Sonam Raghuwanshi, who was initially feared missing, has now been traced to Uttar Pradesh and is accused of orchestrating his murder.
In a chilling twist, Meghalaya Police on Monday confirmed that Sonam Raghuwanshi had allegedly hired contract killers from Madhya Pradesh to eliminate her husband during their trip. Three men have been arrested in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur along with Sonam, who, according to Meghalaya Police, surrendered. One more suspect is still on the run.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma praised the swift work of the police in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “Within 7 days a major breakthrough has been achieved by the #meghalayapolice in the Raja murder case … 3 assailants who are from Madhya Pradesh have been arrested, female has surrendered and operation still on to catch 1 more assailant .. well done #meghalayapolice”
A honeymoon gone wrong
The couple, who had tied the knot on May 11 in Indore, arrived in Meghalaya on May 21. The next day, they travelled to Mawlakhiat village and set off on a trek to the popular Nongriat village in East Khasi Hills, known for its iconic double-decker living root bridge.
As per NDTV, they checked into Shipara Homestay on the evening of May 22. The homestay owner, Sianti Sohkhlet, recalled, “They came along with guides. I can't recall the exact time... but I think it was around 5 pm.”
According to Sohkhlet and the local guides, the couple left the homestay at around 6 am on May 23, reportedly to trek back alone. They declined breakfast and told Sohkhlet they knew the route. They were last seen at around 10 am by guide Albert Pde, who spotted them walking with three other men - believed to be tourists at the time - up the steep trail of 3,000 steps towards Mawlakhiat.
That was the last confirmed sighting of the couple together.
Search and discovery
With no contact from the couple, a search was launched. Raja’s body was eventually recovered from a deep gorge on June 2. The discovery of the body turned the missing persons case into a murder probe. Teams from the police and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) began combing the dense hilly terrain for clues. At that time, Sonam was believed to be kidnapped or missing.
However, as the investigation unfolded and statements from locals and guides were taken, a more sinister story began to surface. The police were able to piece together the couple’s movements during their brief 12-hour stay in Nongriat, supported by testimony from the homestay staff and guides.
Sonam found, family says she’s in shock
On Monday, Sonam was traced to Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. CNN-News18 reported her being “held” for allegedly hiring the killers. Her brother, speaking to the channel, claimed that she was still in a state of shock.
Meghalaya Director General of Police has stated that Sonam's arrest, along with three men, is linked directly to the planned murder of her husband. The remaining accused is still being pursued.
The exact motive behind the murder remains under investigation and police are tight-lipped about further details as they continue questioning the suspects.
Chilling questions remain
While authorities have moved swiftly in cracking the case, several questions remain unanswered - including how the killers coordinated the plan, how Sonam managed to vanish for days after the crime and what led her to take such a drastic step so soon after her wedding.
This bizarre and tragic case of a honeymoon turning into a murder plot has shocked the hill state and made national headlines. The Meghalaya Police are expected to hold a press briefing later this week to share more details as the probe deepens.
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