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News18
20 hours ago
- News18
Sonam Raghuvanshi Arrest: 5 Unanswered Questions In The Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder
Last Updated: Sonam Raghuvanshi is in custody, but the mystery deepens—what was the motive, who helped her, and why was Raja murdered on their honeymoon? The Raja Raghuvanshi murder case has taken a dramatic turn with the arrest of four people, including his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi who is now accused of being the main conspirator. However, several key questions remain unanswered in the case, raising fresh doubts about the motive, planning and possible involvement of others. Raghuvanshi and his wife had gone missing while honeymooning in Meghalaya's Sohra area on May 23. His body was found in a gorge on June 2, while a search for his wife was underway. According to Raja's elder brother Vipin Raghuvanshi, Sonam contacted her brother Govind late on Sunday night and informed him that she was in Uttar Pradesh. She was arrested in Ghazipur, and will be taken back to Meghalaya for further investigation. The mystery unfolded when the newly-wed couple, from Indore went to Meghalaya for their honeymoon. They stayed at a homestay in Shillong on May 22. The following day, they visited the Double Decker Living Root Bridge in Nongrit village near Cherrapunji. On the afternoon of May 23, Sonam called her mother-in-law, breathlessly stating, 'We are in the jungle", and mentioned that she was observing the Gyaras fast. This was the last time their families heard from them, as both their phones were switched off afterwards. A search was launched after Sonam's brother and relatives arrived in Shillong. The couple's rented scooter was found abandoned on May 24. After an eight-day search, Raja's decomposed body was discovered in a deep ditch near Wei Sawdong Waterfall on June 2. The body was identified with the help of a tattoo that said 'Raja' on his right hand. A white T-shirt belonging to a woman was found nearby, and a post-mortem revealed that Raja had been murdered with a machete. State police, NDRF, SDRF, and special operations teams continued searching through jungles and ditches for Sonam. Blood stains were found on a black raincoat, though it remained unconfirmed whether it belonged to Sonam. Meanwhile, Raja's body was brought back to Indore, where the last rites were performed. The family demanded a CBI inquiry and initially believed that Sonam had been kidnapped. Sonam's brother Govind and Raja's brother Vipin were engaged in the search in Meghalaya. 'My sister is alive, she was kidnapped. The police are only looking for the body, but she should be found alive," Govind had said. The family claimed that since the area is near the Bangladesh border, perhaps Sonam was taken there. However, in a dramatic turn of events, on Sunday night, Meghalaya Police announced the arrest of Sonam Raghuvanshi. DGP Nongrang said that three more people were detained along with Sonam. She had allegedly called her brother Govind and shared some important information, after which the police apprehended her. What Has Been Revealed So Far CCTV footage: In the CCTV footage dated May 22, Raja and Sonam appeared to be normal at the homestay in Shillong. The white T-shirt Sonam was wearing in the video was later found near Raja's body. Sonam's last call: During her last known call, Sonam's mother-in-law said she sounded tired and upset. Sonam complained about the jungle and the poor quality of food. Murder weapon: The machete recovered by police appeared new and is suspected to have been bought specifically for the murder. 5 Questions That Remained Unanswered The motive behind Raja's murder is still uncertain—whether Sonam was directly involved or orchestrated the killing. It remains to be determined if the crime was driven by personal enmity or was part of a robbery plot. The details of the other three arrested individuals are under scrutiny, including whether they were locals or had links to Indore. Sonam's location and movements during the period she was believed to be missing remain unexplained, raising the possibility that she deliberately went into hiding. The family's claim that Sonam was kidnapped is now being viewed with suspicion and may have been intended to mislead the investigation. Police arrested Sonam in Ghazipur. However, it remains unclear how she got there. Her conversation with her brother and some newly uncovered evidence have made her a key suspect. The arrest of Sonam has plunged Raja's family into deeper shock. Meghalaya Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) continues to delve into the case, hoping to uncover the motive and conspiracy through the interrogation of Sonam and the other suspects. Raja Raghuvanshi was allegedly murdered by individuals hired by his wife, during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, according to DGP I Nongrang. Sonam turned herself in to the police in Ghazipur, while three other suspects were arrested in overnight raids. Following her surrender at the Nandganj police station, Sonam was taken for a medical examination. DGP I Nongrang confirmed that the arrested men disclosed that Sonam had hired them to kill Raghuvanshi. Efforts are ongoing in Madhya Pradesh to apprehend additional individuals involved in the crime. Sources indicated that one person remains at large and has not yet been arrested. top videos View all It has been reported that Raj Kushwaha, currently in police custody, was identified as the mastermind behind the plot. Initial investigations revealed that Sonam had a prior relationship with Raj before her marriage to Raja and that she had booked their honeymoon tickets to Meghalaya. The three other suspects arrested in Madhya Pradesh were identified as Vicky Thakur, Akash, and Anand, who were allegedly the ones who carried out the murder. Location : Uttar Pradesh | Meghalaya, India First Published: June 09, 2025, 12:17 IST News india Sonam Raghuvanshi Arrest: 5 Unanswered Questions In The Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder
News18
6 days ago
- General
- News18
Indore Missing Couple Probe: What Sonam Revealed In Final Call To In-Laws Before Disappearing
Last Updated: East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem acknowledged that the couple had a minor dispute with a female coffee vendor but dismissed speculation of a planned murder. Indore missing couple case: A honeymoon trip to Meghalaya turned tragic for Indore-based couple Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi, who went missing on May 23 while trekking in the picturesque Sohra region. Days later, Raja's semi-decomposed body was recovered from a deep gorge below Wei Sawdong Falls, identified by a distinctive 'Raja" tattoo on his wrist. The suspected murder weapon — a dao (machete) — and a mobile phone were also retrieved from the lowest layer of the gorge. The couple had been trekking in the area when they lost contact, and police have since registered a murder case. Sonam remains missing, and the search continues. The family believes robbery may have been the motive, pointing to missing items such as Raja's purse and diamond bracelet. Speaking to the media, Raja's brother Vipin Raghuvanshi demanded a CBI probe, saying: 'We suspect murder due to robbery — his purse and diamond bracelet are missing. It seems Sonam Raghuvanshi has been kidnapped." Sonam's Last Phone Call But it is Sonam's final call to her mother-in-law that now stands out as a possible hint at the unfolding danger. According to Raja's mother, Sonam called her on May 23 — Gyaras, a fasting day — to check in. When asked to eat something since they were hiking, Sonam refused, saying, 'Ghumne ke chakkar main vrat thodi tod dungi" (Just because I'm vacationing, I won't break my fast), reported The Times Of India. The family shared a recording of this call, in which Sonam sounds short of breath, explaining that they were trekking through a forest to see a waterfall. The call ends abruptly with her saying she would talk later — a call that never came. As per the report in The Times of India, Vipin said they had urged the police to search the very location where the body was eventually found, but those pleas went unheeded for several critical days. The family has also raised concerns that some 'suspects" may be misleading investigators about the actual crime scene. East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem acknowledged that the couple had a minor dispute with a female coffee vendor but dismissed speculation of a planned murder.
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Honeymooner hacked to death in Meghalaya: How wife Sonam's last call to mom-in-law hinted at danger before couple vanished
SHILLONG/INDORE: Indore honeymooner Raja Raghuvanshi, whose decomposed body was found in a gorge of Weisawdong falls Monday after he disappeared with his wife Sonam on May 23, had been hacked to death with a 'dao' (machete), police said on Tuesday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Meanwhile, the couple's families demanded a CBI probe and for the Army to lead the search for Sonam. "There is no doubt it was a murder. We have recovered a 'dao'. It was new and used for this very purpose," East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem said, adding a search for the criminals was on. The victim's mobile had also been found. SP Syiem said the autopsy report was awaited to determine if Raja's death occurred before or after falling into the gorge. "We can't rule out any possibility. Whether the motive was robbery, vendetta or any form of hatred or issue between the accused and the victims, we need to find that out. We need to look for more evidence before coming to a conclusion," the SP added. He said the probe was being given highest priority. "Tomorrow, we will resume search for the wife in the adjoining area as the gorge extends quite a distance," he added. A woman's white shirt, the broken screen of a mobile and a strip of medicines were found near Raja's body. His smartwatch was still on his wrist, but his wallet, gold chain, rings and the couple's four mobile phones were missing," said the SP. Raja's brother, Vipin, who has been part of the search operations in Meghalaya, said, "There should be a CBI investigation into the case." He alleged that some 'suspects' were trying to mislead investigators about the crime scene. Won't break fast: Sonam told mom-in-law Raja's mother shared her last conversation with Sonam just before the couple went missing. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She had called to check in on her as May 23 was Gyaras, a fasting day. She asked the newlywed to eat something as they were hiking, but Sonam refused, saying, 'Ghumne ke chakkar main vrat thodi tod dungi (Just because I am vacationing. I won't break my fast).' The family shared a recording of this call in which Sonam sounds short of breath, telling her mother-inlaw that they were trekking in the forest to see a waterfall. The call ends abruptly, with Sonam saying she would talk later. That call never came. Vipin said they had been asking with police to search the very area where the body was found but their pleas went unheeded for several crucial days. They also allege that some 'suspects' are trying to mislead investigators about the actual crime scene. The family has voiced suspicion on some locals, but the SP said all the locals have been questioned and there is no possibility of their involvement. 'It is true that the couple had a dispute with a female coffee vendor but it is not possible that she or other local vendors planned this murder so meticulously,' Syiem told TOI on Tuesday. The family, however, argues that it would be nearly impossible for someone unfamiliar with the area to reach the location where Raja's body was found. The body was spotted by a drone in a deep gorge below Wei Sawdong falls at Riat Arliang parking lot. 'This area has been closed for two years and there is a boundary wall around the parking lot. It seems he was attacked and thrown,' said Vipin. He told TOI that they were making arrangements to bring the body back to Indore. The family has refused to cremate him in Shillong, so that his parents can get a last look at him.
