As search continues for missing Indore woman in Meghalaya, MP govt seeks CBI probe
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to initiate a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the murder of an Indore-based newly-wed man Raja Raghuvanshi in Meghalaya, saying that 'every possible effort' was made to trace his missing wife Sonam.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav wrote in his X account: 'In this hour of crisis, Madhya Pradesh stands with Mrs. Sonam Raghuvanshi and her family. I have discussed this matter with the Chief Minister of Meghalaya. Senior police officers from Madhya Pradesh are in constant contact with Meghalaya officials. I have requested the Honorable Union Home Minister, Shri @AmitShah ji, to order a CBI investigation in this case. Every possible effort is being made for the safe return of Mrs. Sonam Raghuvanshi.'
The mystery of what happened to the newlywed couple Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam Raghuvanshi from Madhya Pradesh's Indore who had travelled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon on May 20 — nine days after their wedding — continues to confound investigators. The couple had checked out of the Shillong hotel on May 23 and travelled to an area near Cherrapunji. They last talked to their family that afternoon.
Raja's body was found with wounds inflicted by a Dao (machete) while Sonam has yet to be found. A Special Investigation Team was formed to look into the incident, although police have yet to make any arrests.
The search operation for Sonam has also run into difficulties posed by tough terrain, dense forests and unrelenting rains, which have resulted in the rescue teams managing to work for a few hours before calling it a day.
A new CCTV footage released Saturday shows Raja and Sonam arriving at a homestay in Shillong on a scooter to drop off their luggage before riding off again. The video, which is four minutes long, shows Raja and Sonam arriving at the homestay with a white suitcase and wearing black jackets.
The video shows the couple interacting with each other before Raja goes inside to talk to the staff at the registration desk. Sonam is seen taking off her jacket and fixing her hair. Moments later, Raja comes out, takes a few things out of the suitcase, and hands them over to Sonam.
The white shirt Sonam is seen wearing in the CCTV footage was later found near Raja's body.
Meanwhile, as Sonam's brother Gaurav waits anxiously for news of his sister, he says he's 'relieved' at the MP government decision to seek a CBI probe. Gaurav has been in Shillong for the last few days as the police continue to look for his sister.
'I have been with the police and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for days now and there is no headway in the case. Even the new CCTV footage we had traced and leaked to the media. The police are not able to crack the case,' Gaurav told The Indian Express.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem did not respond to calls or messages.
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Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
New CCTV clip shows Raja & Sonam at hotel
Indore: A 14-minute-long CCTV footage has emerged of Indore couple Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi, raising the hope of finding some clues to solve the mystery of who killed him and where is the missing bride. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The footage shows the honeymooners depositing their bags in a hotel before going towards Double Decker Bridge on May 21. Both of them are in raincoats. The couple is seen arriving at 12:42pm on the same two-wheeler that was later found abandoned. Sonam is in a white T-shirt and black trousers under a black-and-pink raincoat. A white shirt was found next to Raja's body and a similar raincoat a few days later in the vicinity though neither has been confirmed to be hers. Raja is seen requesting the manager to allow them to leave their luggage at the hotel while they go to visit Double-Decker Bridge. Sonam puts her raincoat in the boot of the two-wheeler. They transfer a few clothes from their suitcases into a carry bagand head off. They look cheerful and carefree. At 12:45pm, a red hatchback arrives and stops at a short distance. Two minutes later, two men step out of the car and enter the hotel. One of them is seen making entries on the computer, while the other makes a phone call. At 12:56 the couple leave on their two wheeler. Sonam's family members don't think the raincoat found by police is hers. "It's 3XL and it is not clear if she was wearing the same raincoat," said Govind, who has been camping in Shillong. Police are examining the footage but the two families feel Meghalaya cops aren't doing enough to find Sonam or trace Raja's killers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Govind said: "We were the ones who found this viral CCTV footage. If a common man can do this, why can't police?" He had earlier said that Meghalaya police should "stop looking for a body". "My sister was abducted. We fear she has been trafficked to Bangladesh," he had told TOI. Meghalaya officials say police, SDERF and NDRF teams, have been braving treacherous terrain and harsh weather in their search for Sonam. "Police don't take us to witness the search operation. I am going on my own. They are just completing formalities in the name of searching. For the past three days, they have been searching just 50 metres on either side of a 10km road," he said. "If the body were to be found on a road like that, wouldn't it have come to light in 16 days? Even a five-year-old can understand that. Sohra police are just killing time so that our patience breaks, we leave, and the news stops coming in the media," Govind told TOI. According to local media reports in Meghalaya, a guide in Sohra has told police that he saw Raja and Sonam with three men before the couple went missing. They were talking in Hindi and seemed friendly, the reports said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Cop's tip-off leads to bust of inter-state drug network traced to Goa
Hyderabad: A vigilant constable's surveillance at a Hyderabad court uncovered a shocking revelation. A drug peddler, already facing a 2018 narcotics case, was reportedly attending court hearings while carrying contraband. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Acting on the tip-off, sleuths from the Telangana Anti Narcotics Bureau (TGANB) apprehended the accused, leading to the unravelling of a series of drug rackets with roots in Parra village in Goa. These rackets had a far-reaching network supplying narcotics to several metropolitan cities, including Hyderabad. The investigation led to the arrest of Livio Joseph Almeida, a Goa resident, who was found to have an active clientele of 48 individuals from Hyderabad, regularly purchasing cocaine and MDMA. Alongside him, his associate Ubalanka Shankar from Hyderabad was also arrested last month. Livio admitted to sourcing drugs from local suppliers in Parra, which subsequently led to the arrest of another peddler, Benjamin Fosu, also from Parra. During interrogation, Fosu revealed that Nigerian drug networks were actively operating from other Goa hotspots such as Anjuna and Siolim. The TNANB's findings aligned with earlier arrests, including that of a DJ, Swadeep, in 2024, who was allegedly procuring drugs from Parra to sell at events. Similarly, in another case, a doctor was arrested for allegedly purchasing drugs from a dealer named Balakrishna. TGANB surveillance showed Balakrishna, a Mumbai resident, travelled discreetly to Hyderabad by private bus, blending in as a casual traveller. He used bike taxis and adopted a low-profile approach while delivering narcotics, including to the doctor, during seemingly routine meetings. Sources said this string of arrests underscores the evolving tactics of drug peddlers and the inter-state links between Goa-based cartels and urban consumers, particularly in Hyderabad.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Marriage, Disappearance, Death: Inside Indore Couple's Chilling Meghalaya Trip
Last Updated: Upon thorough search, Raja's body was found in a gorge on June 2, while a search is still on for his wife. An Indore-based newlywed couple – Raja Raghuvanshi (30) and Sonam Raghuwanshi (27) – who came to rain-soaked hills of Meghalaya for their honeymoon, shockingly disappeared on May 23. Upon thorough search, Raja's body was found in a gorge on June 2, while a search is still on for his wife. Here's the timeline of the incidents: May 20, Guwahati: The duo embarked on their honeymoon on May 20, where Guwahati was their first stop. May 21, Shillong: The couple reached Balaji Guest House in Meghalaya's Shillong and checked in. May 22 morning, Shillong: They rented a two-wheeler on Keating Road in the morning and returned to Balaji Guest House. They checked out, skipping breakfast, and informed the manager they'd be back by May 25, or would call if they needed a room. May 22 evening, Mawlakhiat, East Khasi Hills: The couple arrived in Mawlakhiat village on a rented scooter. They trekked over 3,000 steps down the gorge to visit the famous living root bridges in Nongriat village, where they stayed the night, according to police. May 23, morning: Mawlakhiat, East Khasi Hills: The couple checked out of Shipara Homestay and returned to Mawlakhiat village unaccompanied by their guide. They departed from Mawlakhiat and later they vanished from the Sohra (Cherrapunji) area. A search began in the surrounding areas with assistance from local villagers. Albert Pde, a local guide at Mawlakhiat, told news agency PTI that he saw the couple with three male tourists while they were climbing from Nongriat to Mawlakhiat around 10 am on May 23. The guide told the police the couple informed him they would manage by themselves and did not use his service for the return trek. May 25, Sohrarim: The police traced the scooty owner, who came to Sohra police station and confirmed that the Raghuvanshi couple had rented the two-wheeler. June 2, Wei Sawdong Falls: The semi-decomposed body of 30-year-old Raja was discovered at the bottom of the gorge near the Weisawdong Falls parking area at Riat Arliang. He was identified by a distinctive 'Raja" tattoo on his right hand. Recovered along with Raja's decomposed body were a machete, a white shirt belonging to a woman, a strip of medicine, a part of a mobile phone LCD screen, and a smartwatch. June 4, Sohra: A raincoat with blood stains — suspected to possibly belong to the missing tourist — was recovered near Mawkma Road, Sohra, and was sent for forensic testing. 'We recovered a wet raincoat. There are certain stains on it, but we cannot confirm if those are blood stains. Only forensic tests will determine that," East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem had said. The search for 27-year-old Sonam is still underway. Police have registered a murder case and are treating the circumstances with suspicion. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is leading the probe. 'We are investigating with an open mind, and all possibilities, including honour killing, are being explored," SP Syiem told CNN-News18. Raja's body has been sent to NEIGRIHMS, Shillong, for post-mortem examination. As the search for Sonam continues, investigators hope that the recovery of the dao and mobile phone will provide critical leads in unraveling the mystery behind the suspected double homicide. First Published: June 07, 2025, 23:53 IST
