From wedding vows to machete blows: Inside the chilling Meghalaya honeymoon murder - Plot revealed in 10 pictures

Time of India

a day ago

Sonam Raghuvanshi, once a young woman with aspirations of earning an MBA, now finds herself at the heart of a gruesome murder investigation that has shocked the nation. After completing her graduation, her academic dreams were quietly pushed aside under family pressure, which steered her into helping with the family's plywood business in Madhya Pradesh.
It was there that she met Raj Kushwaha, an employee who would soon become central to one of the most chilling honeymoon murder cases in recent memory.
Just days after marrying Raja Raghuvanshi in what appeared to be a traditional union, Sonam allegedly conspired with Raj to have her husband killed during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. Police claim Raj stayed behind while coordinating the murder, carried out by three men he recruited.
As Raja was brutally attacked with a machete in a remote forest, Sonam stood by, reportedly watching in silence. From a false robbery narrative to an attempted cover-up, the case has unraveled into a horrifying tale of deception, betrayal, and premeditated murder, leaving both families and investigators stunned.
Shattered dreams
Sonam Raghuvanshi, who is now at the center of a shocking honeymoon murder case, once aspired to pursue an MBA after completing her graduation.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Scam Exposed: What They Won't Tell You about zero trust!
Expertinspector
Click Here
Undo
Her academic ambitions, however, were put on hold under family pressure.
Family expectations
Sonam's family discouraged her from seeking employment outside the home, urging her instead to assist her brother Govind in running the family's plywood business in Madhya Pradesh.
A fatal meeting
While working at the family business, Sonam met Raj Kushwaha, who managed billing and accounts. This acquaintance would later become central to a sinister plot.
The doomed marriage
Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi tied the knot on May 11 and left for their honeymoon in Meghalaya on May 20. Just three days into the trip, on May 23, the couple went missing. CCTV footage from their Shillong homestay showed them wearing black jackets and carrying a white suitcase.
Raj, described as calm and composed, is now accused of orchestrating the murder of Sonam's husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, just days after their wedding.
A suspicious trip
During the couple's honeymoon in Meghalaya, Raja's brother Vipin grew suspicious after overhearing frequent phone calls between Govind and Raj. At the time, nothing seemed amiss.
A phone conversation between Sonam Raghuvanshi and her mother-in-law on the day Raja Raghuvanshi was murdered has emerged as a chilling focal point in the police investigation. Sonam told her mother-in-law, Uma Raghuvanshi, that she would not break her 'Gyaras' fast just because they were away.
When asked where Raja was, she replied, "Raja is walking ahead... his phone is in the bag, I'll get him to call you later."
Coordinated killing
Police claim Raj directed the murder remotely, instructing three childhood friends—Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi—to carry out the killing while he remained behind.
Trust betrayed
Raj had long been seen as part of the Raghuvanshi family's inner circle—sharing meals and business ties. His alleged betrayal has left the family deeply shocked and devastated.
Police allege Sonam and her lover, Raj Kushwaha, planned the murder days before the trip, hiring three men—Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi—to execute the crime on the honeymoon in Meghalaya.
The murder
The assailants allegedly shadowed Raja and Sonam, using a rental car after arriving in Shillong on May 21. Sonam reportedly shared their live location with Raj, who stayed and coordinated remotely.
In a forested area, the attackers tried to push Raja off a steep cliff. When that failed, they brutalized him with a machete (dao) carried for the purpose
Witnesses and forensic evidence confirm Raja was struck multiple times with a machete—his autopsy showed at least two sharp wounds to the head—until he succumbed to the attack.
Unfolding horror
What was believed to be a traditional and respectful marriage quickly unraveled into a story of deception, manipulation, and murder—leaving a community stunned and a family in grief.
According to police, Sonam watched the entire murder "coldly" without intervening.
The coverup
Investigators recovered the bloodstained machete near the gorge, a raincoat tied to Sonam's belongings, and Raja's missing jewellery—elements pointing toward a premeditated murder disguised as robbery.
Sonam fled the scene soon after, resurfacing days later in Indore and UP. CCTV, phone records, and her travel route all suggest a planned escape—not a victimized bride. Sonam initially claimed unknown thieves attacked Raja during a robbery. but investigators countered this narrative using evidence like recovered valuables and her suspicious behavior.
Sonam, Raj, and the three hired men have been arrested and charged. Authorities are probing deeper into the conspiracy—examining Sonam's role, motives, and whether the motive included Sonam's desire to leave Raja and be with Raj.