Meghalaya police files 790-page chargesheet in Raja Raghuvanshi honeymoon murder case

The court will now examine the evidence presented, while the accused face trial in the coming months.

The Meghalaya Police on Saturday submitted a 790-page chargesheet in the sensational murder case of Indore resident Raja Raghuvanshi, who was found dead during his honeymoon trip in Sohra (Cherrapunji). The chargesheet, filed before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Sohra Sub-Division Court in Shillong, names five accused, including Raja’s wife Sonam Raghuvanshi.

The accused identified are Sonam Raghuvanshi, Raj Kushwaha, Vishal Singh Chauhan, Ashish Singh Rajput, and Aanand Kurmi. They have been booked under sections 103(1), 238(a), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police also submitted substantial material evidence and enclosures along with the chargesheet.

The honeymoon that turned tragic

According to police records, Raja and Sonam, both residents of Indore, travelled to Shillong for their honeymoon on May 21, 2025, before heading to Sohra. On May 26, the couple were reported missing.

Following intensive search operations involving Sohra Police, Special Operations Team (SOT), NDRF, SDRF, trekking groups, and villagers, Raja’s body was discovered on June 2 in a deep gorge at Arliang Riat Kunongrim near Wei Sawdong, Sohra.

The case was registered as Sohra PS Case No. 07/2025 under multiple provisions of the BNS Act.

Wife among the accused

The investigation soon took a darker turn. Sonam, initially reported missing, was later found near a roadside dhaba along the Varanasi-Ghazipur highway after several days.

Police named her as one of the prime accused, alongside four others, linking her directly to the murder conspiracy.

Crime scene reconstruction

As part of the probe, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) reconstructed the crime scene in Sohra in the presence of the accused, including Sonam. The reconstruction was aimed at piecing together the sequence of events that led to Raja’s death in the gorge.

What lies ahead

With the voluminous chargesheet now filed, the case moves into a crucial legal phase. The inclusion of Raja’s wife as a key accused has added a chilling twist, turning what was supposed to be a honeymoon into one of Meghalaya’s most talked-about murder cases.

The court will now examine the evidence presented, while the accused face trial in the coming months.