How Sonam Raghuvanshi lured husband towards killers, then escaped to UP

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Meghalaya honeymoon murder: On the day the couple reported 'missing', Sonam Raghuvanshi allegedly took her husband Raja Raghuvanshi on a deserted trail under the guise of a photoshoot and directed the hitmen to 'kill him'. She then allegedly not only witnessed the murder but also took part in disposing of Raja's body. She then fled the scene, and reportedly posted 'misleading' social media message from Raja's phone read more
Following the alleged murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, Sonam Raghuvanshi and the three other accused reportedly had a detailed plan to flee the scene and dodge the police. Image courtesy: News18
As chilling new details surface in the Meghalaya honeymoon murder case, police have now stitched together a disturbing timeline behind the killing of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi.
According to authorities, the plot was allegedly orchestrated by Raja's wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, alongside her supposed lover, Raj Kushwaha. The pair enlisted the help of three of Kushwaha's friends, who were hired as 'contract killers'—all of whom are now in police custody.
Raja's lifeless body was discovered in a gorge in the Sohra region, days after the couple had been reported missing while on their honeymoon in Meghalaya.
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Now, several reports citing sources are suggesting that the cold-blooded murder of Raja Raghuvanshi allegedly took place right in front of his wife. Sonam had reportedly lured her husband into the trap, watched him being killed, and then vanished.
Her trail then finally ended nearly 1,200 km away in Uttar Pradesh, where police tracked her down after days of intensive search.
Here's how the twisted plot unfolded.
Took the less-travelled trail on the day of Raja's murder
On the day Raja Raghuvanshi was allegedly murdered, his wife Sonam chose a route through Meghalaya's hills that most tourists tend to avoid.
Instead of taking the well-known Tyrna path that leads to the double-decker living root bridges in Sohra, Sonam led her husband along the more isolated, steep and rugged Mawlingkhiyiat trail. According to a News18 report, investigators believe this was a pre-planned decision to keep the couple away from the usual crowd and gave them the privacy they needed to execute their plan without interruption.
It was along this path that three men, Akash, Anand, and Vikash, joined them. The trio, believed to be hired by Sonam's alleged partner Raj, started interacting with Raja in Hindi.
A local guide, Albert Pde, later told the police that he saw the group along the trail. He offered them his services, but they declined.
'I saw the couple with three men on the way up. The men were walking ahead, and the woman was behind them. They were speaking in Hindi,' he told the police.
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As they walked deeper into the forest, Sonam reportedly slowed down, claiming to feel tired. According to sources, once some distance had grown between her and Raja, she screamed, 'kill him' to the waiting assailants.
So far, four people have been arrested in connection with Raja's murder, including his wife Sonam and her alleged boyfriend. Image: News18
All this while, Sonam's alleged lover Raj was not in the scene. He did not travel to Meghalaya, but Shillong Police sources told NDTV that he did the planning behind the scenes and was in contact with Sonam.
From Meghalaya to UP: How Sonam tried to escape after Raja's murder
Following the alleged murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, Sonam Raghuvanshi and the three other accused reportedly had a detailed plan to flee the scene and dodge the police.
According to an NDTV report quoting senior police sources, Sonam not only witnessed the murder but also took part in disposing of Raja's body. Investigators say she helped push the body into a gorge in Meghalaya's Sohra region. She had allegedly promised the hired killers Rs 4 lakh for the job, an amount she later increased to Rs 20 lakh.
After the killing, all four accused reportedly regrouped at a point about 11 km away from the site. From there, Sonam made her way to Guwahati and boarded a train to Indore.
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She reached Indore on May 25, where she met her alleged partner Raj Kushwaha. Police say he had arranged a rented room for her, while he stayed separately in a nearby hotel. Not long after, the two arranged for a car that took her to Uttar Pradesh.
Her trail finally ended in Nandganj, around 40 km from Varanasi, where she was spotted near a roadside dhaba. According to the Uttar Pradesh Police, Sonam was 'distraught with fever' when she was found. She reportedly surrendered and was taken into custody shortly after.
How Sonam tried to 'mislead' investigators
Even as the investigation unfolded, police began picking up on inconsistencies in the case.
Officers found that during their so-called honeymoon, no photos of Sonam and Raja were posted online. It wasn't until the day of Raja's murder that a post appeared on his account — one that raised eyebrows.
According to News18, the post, allegedly made by Sonam using Raja's phone, read: 'Saat janmon ka saath hai (Together for seven lifetimes).' Investigators believe this was a deliberate move to give the impression that all was well, and to mislead anyone who might start looking for Raja.
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Following the alleged murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, Sonam Raghuvanshi and the three other accused reportedly had a detailed plan to flee the scene and dodge the police. Image courtesy: News18
When she was finally taken into custody, Sonam tried to play the victim. Uttar Pradesh ADG (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash told NDTV, 'Sonam presented herself as a victim, claiming she was drugged and brought to Ghazipur.'
He explained that she informed her family she was at a roadside eatery on the Ghazipur-Varanasi road, knowing that the message would likely reach the police. 'Around 3 am on Monday, she told her family she was at a dhaba. Her family then contacted the Madhya Pradesh police, who alerted local officers, and that's how she was caught,' Yash said.
He further added that Sonam's plan wasn't particularly well thought out. 'She is a poor planner,' he said. 'She lacked knowledge of police procedures and thought she could escape by pretending to be a victim — but it didn't work.'
Yash also praised the Meghalaya Police for their efforts, adding, 'They've done excellent work and are handling the case. If they need our support, we'll provide it.'
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With input from agencies