Shillong, June 18: What was meant to be a romantic honeymoon in the picturesque hills of Meghalaya turned into a chilling tale of betrayal and murder. Sonam Raghuvanshi, a 24-year-old woman from Indore, has been arrested along with five accomplices for allegedly plotting and executing the murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon in Sohra.
The East Khasi Hills Police have uncovered a web of deceit, revealing that Sonam, in collaboration with her lover and three hired men, meticulously planned her husband’s murder for months. The victim, 29-year-old Raja, had married Sonam on May 11 in Indore. The couple soon travelled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon — a trip that ended in a gruesome crime.
A Premeditated Plan
According to police reports, the murder plot was hatched as early as February 2025 in Indore. Sonam’s lover, Raj Kushwaha — an accountant in her family’s furniture business — is believed to be the mastermind behind the conspiracy. He enlisted three of his associates, Vishal Singh Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi, allegedly paying them ₹50,000 to carry out the killing.
“This wasn’t a typical contract killing,” said SP Vivek Syiem, East Khasi Hills. “The accused were friends — one of them even a cousin of the main conspirator — and the act was carried out as a favour.”
A Honeymoon Turns Deadly
The couple checked out of a homestay in Nongriat on May 23 and subsequently went missing. Investigators believe Raja was murdered the same day near Riat Arliang, close to the Wei Sawdong parking lot.
During the reconstruction of the crime scene, it was revealed that Vishal struck the first blow with a machete while Sonam watched. As Raja screamed in agony, Sonam fled, only to return after his death to help the others dispose of his body by dumping it into a nearby gorge. A second machete was later recovered, disproving initial reports that only one weapon was used.
Raja’s decomposed body was recovered on June 2, nearly 10 days after the murder. A nationwide manhunt was launched for Sonam, who had fled the scene. She later surrendered at Nandganj police station in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur on June 8. All five accused — including Sonam and her lover — are now in custody.
Family Disowns the Accused
In a dramatic turn, Sonam’s own family has publicly disowned her. Her brother, Govind Raghuvanshi, expressed shock and grief, stating that the family has severed all ties with her and stands in solidarity with Raja’s bereaved relatives.
A Case That Shook the Nation
What began as a routine missing persons case quickly unraveled into one of the most shocking honeymoon murder cases in recent memory. The brutality, premeditation, and emotional betrayal behind the crime have left the nation stunned — a grim reminder that even the most sacred of bonds can hide the darkest of motives.
