Meghalaya murder case: 'Raja was reluctant for Shillong trip', says family; Sonam and victim wore expensive jewellery to honeymoon

Time of India

6 hours ago

Meghalaya murder case: 'Sonam didn't book return tickets', family shares shocking details; Wife made him wear expensive jewellery to honeymoon
NEW DELHI: The murder case of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi in Meghalaya hills has sent shockwaves, with more details emerging. Now, the mother of the murdered businessman, Uma Raghuvanshi, has shared more insights, saying that his son was not willing to go on honeymoon so soon.
But she (mother) told him to go if his wife, Sonam, has booked the tickets.
Uma also said that Sonam planned the trip for their honeymoon but did not book the return ticket. Talking about his wedding, she said, it was an arranged marriage, and Sonam's behaviour was good with the family, so they never had any doubt about her. Meanwhile, Raja's brother Vipul Raghuvanshi claimed that the couple had earlier made plans for visiting Kamakhya temple in Guwahati but unexpectedly changed their plan.
'Raja did not want to go on honeymoon,' says his mother
According to a report from news agency PTI, Uma Raghuvanshi told reporters, "My son went to Meghalaya with Sonam on her insistence. He did not want to go on honeymoon so soon. My son had told me that Sonam booked tickets for the trip to Meghalaya. I told him that if the ticket has been booked, then he should go to Meghalaya with his wife."
"My son also told me that although Sonam had not booked the return ticket for both of them from Meghalaya, they will return to Indore in six-seven days," she added.
No scratch on her body
On seeing the latest picture of Sonam (from Ghazipur), Uma Raghuvanshi expressed shock as there was not even a scratch mark on her body.
"I want to hear from Sonam, where, why and in what condition she left Raja," she said.
'Sonam avoided going out with Raja before marriage'
Sharing details about Raja and Sonam's wedding, Uma said that after their engagement, her daughter-in-law did not spend enough time with her son and avoided going out with him before marriage.
"When we had asked Sonam about this, she said that she has a lot of work to do in the office.
Sonam said if she is not able to call my son, then my son can also call her," she said.
"Sonam's mother had told me that her family is very strict against a man and a woman meeting before marriage and Sonam's father does not like such meetings," she added.
'Wedding happened with consent of the couple'
Uma told reporters that wedding was held in traditional way and with the consent of Raja, Sonam and both families.
"My son was very happy after the marriage. He wanted Sonam as his wife from the bottom of his heart.
We still cannot believe that she could get her husband killed. It would have been better if my son had remained unmarried, as it could have saved his life," she said.
'She should be hanged to death'
Uma said that she feels quite restless at night after losing her son, adding that if Sonam got Raja killed, then she should be hanged to death.
"I tell my son's photo that whoever did wrong to him should be punished," she said.
Family suspects Sonam and her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha's involvement
Talking to IANS, Vipin Raghuvanshi, the brother of the deceased, said, "There is news that has come out, and honestly, we are all shocked because we had never heard any news like this before.
I had never even seen it. Until now, we have been searching for Sonam, and now, Sonam has been found. Sonam's name is coming out as a conspirator."
"Raj Kushwaha, I heard the name before, as he was an employer of Sonam's company. He and Sonam both can be involved. However, we would still like to wait for a proper investigation," he added.
Raja's sister-in-law, Bhumi Raghuvanshi, added, "We were very shocked to hear Sonam's name coming up.
We cannot believe this at all, but now we want a proper investigation to be conducted regarding Sonam. If she did this, then why? The marriage happened with consent, and both were happy, but why would she do this? We demand a swift investigation."
'Plan unexpectedly changed'
Vipul further disclosed that Raja and Sonam initially planned to visit Kamakhya temple in Guwahati but unexpectedly changed the plan and headed to Shillong.
He said that Sonak had made all the bookings, and her family was unaware of the sudden change in their plan.
Raja was wearing expensive jewellery worth Rs 10 lakh
Sonam left for the airport from her paternal home wearing her wedding jewellery, according to the family.
According to an IANS report, the Indore businessman was also carrying ornaments, including a diamond ring, chain, and bracelet valued at over Rs 10 lakh, to their honeymoon.
Uma Raghuvanshi had also questioned the need to carry so much jewellery.
What happened so far?
Raja and Sonam got married on May 11 and left for Meghalaya on May 20.
On May 23, the couple got missing while vacationing in Sohra area in East Khasi Hills district. Later on June 2, Raghuvanshi's body was found in a gorge and operations were launched to find Sonam, who went missing after her husband's murder.
The northeastern state's police on Monday morning said that Raja Raghuvanshi was allegedly killed by men hired by his wife, Sonam, during their honeymoon in Meghalaya.
She surrendered before the Nandganj police station in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur. Meghalaya DGP I Nongrang told PTI that three other assailants who allegedly murdered Raja were arrested in overnight raids.
Of the three arrested men, tw are from MP 's Indore and one from UP's Lalitpur.
Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem said that one more person has been arrested from MP's Sagar district.