Latest news with #Kamakhya
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder: Did Sonam plot Raja's murder just 4 days after wedding? New details emerge
What began as a baffling case of missing honeymooners in the picturesque hills of Meghalaya has culminated in a chilling tale of alleged betrayal and murder. Initially, authorities believed Raja Raghuvanshi and his new bride, Sonam, might have simply lost their way during a trek. However, the discovery of Raja's body on June 2 in a gorge, accompanied by a 'dao' (machete) and a phone, alongside a blood-stained raincoat kilometers away, quickly shifted the focus to a suspected robbery. The missing gold ring and chain from his body solidified this theory. Yet, as investigators delved deeper, the narrative took a sinister turn. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), comprising SDRF, NDRF, and central and state intelligence units, was formed to crack the case, which had garnered nationwide attention. Both families had even called for a CBI probe. The police on Monday arrested Sonam from a dhaba in UP, along with four other suspects, including her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha. 'I didn't kill my husband': Sonam Raghuvanshi Despite the arrests, new details continued to emerge. Sonam initially told Ghazipur police that miscreants had robbed and killed Raja near the falls but remained tight-lipped about her whereabouts or escape. "I didn't kill my husband. They killed him for the jewellery," Sonam stated, referring to the four arrested men: Akash Rajput, 21, from Lalitpur (UP), Vishal Singh Chauhan, 22, and Kushwaha, 21, both from Indore, and Anand Kurmi, 23, from Satna in MP. Live Events Indore additional DCP Rajesh Dandotiya confirmed, "Akash, Vishal and Raj were produced in court and sent on seven-day transit remand. Anand is being brought to Indore & will be presented in court Tuesday." Raj, suspected to be the prime co-conspirator, reportedly lived near Sonam's home previously and worked as an accountant in her family business, a role he continued even after moving away a year ago. Police allege Sonam's family opposed her relationship with Raj, leading to her arranged marriage with Raja through a Kushwaha community network. Did Sonam plot Raja's murder at her home? Investigators said that merely four days after her wedding, when Sonam returned to her parental home for a post-marriage ritual, she allegedly plotted her husband's murder with Raj. The alleged motive was to eliminate Raja swiftly so she could reunite with Raj. East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem alleged that Sonam was consistently sending her location to Raj throughout the trip. Investigators suspect the killers shadowed the couple after their visit to Kamakhya temple in Guwahati. Police allege that while Raj remained in Indore, Akash, Vishal, and Anand traveled by train to Assam. "The murder weapon was purchased in Guwahati," an officer in Indore revealed. Sonam reportedly insisted on extending their stay in Shillong, a move now viewed by investigators as part of a premeditated plan. Tourist guide Albert Pde's testimony proved crucial. He informed investigators that he saw the couple with three Hindi-speaking men on May 23 as they ascended 3,000 steps from Nongriat to Mawlakhiat, a detail that strongly suggested outsiders were shadowing the honeymooners. "All the dots connected to indicate that there was prior planning," SP Syiem stated. He added, "We will confirm everything once the accused are interrogated together." Sonam's parents, however, have dismissed the allegations, with her father, Devi Singh, claiming his daughter is being "framed" by the police.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Time of India
Was Sonam Raghuvanshi's sudden request to visit Kamakhya Temple a setup? How live location to lover helped killers track Raja
A newlywed honeymoon in the Northeast took a shocking turn when a woman named Sonam allegedly plotted her husband Raja Raghuvanshi's murder, just days after their wedding. According to investigators, she stayed in contact with her alleged boyfriend, Raj Kushwaha, the entire time, even sharing her live location during the trip. Police claim Sonam worked with Raj and three others, all young men with no criminal history, to track and kill her husband in Meghalaya's Sohra region. One major clue was Sonam's sudden request to visit the Kamakhya temple in Assam, which helped the killers close in on their location. Raja, a 28-year-old transporter from Indore, was found dead in a deep gorge on June 2, less than 11 days after his wedding. His wife was found alone and disoriented at a highway dhaba in Uttar Pradesh nearly 1,200 km from the crime scene. She reportedly called her brother using the eatery owner's phone, triggering a police alert. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Indonesia (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo Sonam, 24, allegedly planned the murder with Raj Kushwaha, 21, who worked in her father's business. The other accused are Akash Rajput (21), Vishal Singh Chauhan (22), and Anand Kurmi (23). All are now in custody. 'She looked terrified and wasn't even speaking properly,' said a woman who met her at the dhaba. Sonam later surrendered to UP Police and is being taken to Shillong for further questioning. Live Events Meghalaya DGP I Nongrang confirmed the arrests, while CM Conrad Sangma praised police for solving the case in a week. Officials believe the motive was a love affair turned deadly. Raja's mother Uma Raghuvanshi is shattered. 'He told me Sonam hardly spoke to him. I didn't know she was hiding something so dark,' she said. The family said Sonam stayed with them for four days after marriage, before going to her parents' house. Then suddenly, Raja informed them she had planned a temple trip. 'He bought clothes and packed for the trip. She made him wear his best jewellery, a chain, a ring, a watch, and left as a bride,' Uma said. 'And now she stands accused of killing him.' The heartbroken mother added, 'If she didn't want to marry him, she could have left. Why murder him? He loved her truly. We treated her like our own daughter.' The family is demanding the harshest punishment. 'If proven guilty, she and the others must be hanged. She didn't just kill our son, she broke our trust, and the meaning of family,' Uma said, her voice heavy with pain. Inputs from TOI
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Time of India
A pilgrimage, change of plans & a trek to death: Meghalaya honeymoon murder stuns nation
GUWAHATI: What began as a romantic honeymoon for newlyweds Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam ended in a chilling murder that has shocked the nation. Raja (28), a transporter from Indore, and Sonam (24) were married on May 11. Merely days later, Sonam allegedly orchestrated her husband's killing in Meghalaya with the help of her lover and three contract killers. Soon after the wedding, Sonam surprised Raja with a sudden pilgrimage to the Kamakhya temple in Assam. She reportedly insisted he wear a gold chain, a ring, and an expensive watch. After the temple visit, she suggested they proceed to Meghalaya, where the couple checked into a homestay in Nongriat village on May 22. The next day, May 23, they went untraceable. A local guide later claimed to have seen them climbing from Nongriat to Mawlakhiat, accompanied by three men who spoke Hindi. On June 2, Raja's body was discovered in a gorge. His jewellery was missing and a bloodstained machete was recovered from the scene. Police say this was no accident—it was a calculated murder, planned just days after the wedding. On June 9, Sonam was arrested at a dhaba in Uttar Pradesh after a phone call to her brother revealed her location. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Sources say she had shown no objections to marrying Raja when asked by her family. Police have also arrested Akash Rajput (19) from Lalitpur, Raj Khushwaha (21), Vishal Chauhan (22) from Indore, and Anand Kurmi (23) from Satna. According to investigators, Sonam was in love with Raj Khushwaha, who worked in her father's plywood business. Raj stayed in Madhya Pradesh while the three hired killers followed the couple, receiving real-time updates from Sonam. 'This is heartbreaking,' said Raja's mother, Uma Raghuvanshi. 'If she didn't want the marriage, she could've left him or eloped. Why kill?'
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
'I didn't kill my husband': What Sonam Raghuvanshi told UP cops, what she didn't
INDORE: In a dramatic turn in the honeymoon murder case, Sonam , who had vanished for over two weeks, was found at a highway dhaba around 2am on Monday. She was picked up from Kashi Dhaba after calling her brother from the eatery owner's phone — a move that triggered a multi-state alert. Acting swiftly, Indore police coordinated with their UP counterparts to trace her location. She was taken into custody under Nandganj police station limits. She surrendered without resistance. After being taken into custody, Sonam told Ghazipur police, 'I didn't kill my husband. They killed him for the jewellery,' referring to the four arrested men — her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha, along with Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi. While she insisted she played no role in Raja Raghuvanshi's murder, Sonam refused to explain where she had been for the past 16 days, how she escaped the scene near the Meghalaya waterfalls where Raja's body was found, or how she reached Kashi Dhaba on the Varanasi-Ghazipur highway in Uttar Pradesh — nearly 1,200 km from the forest gorge. Her silence on these critical questions has kept investigators guessing. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) — including SDRF, NDRF, and intelligence agencies — is probing the case, which has drawn nationwide attention. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Both families have demanded a CBI inquiry, even as more twists continue to unfold. 'She was extremely scared and barely able to speak,' a woman present at the scene told police. The dhaba owner, Sahil Yadav, has also given a statement. East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem alleged that Sonam had been sharing her live location with Raj Kushwaha throughout the couple's northeast trip. Investigators suspect that the killers began trailing the newlyweds after their visit to the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati. While Raj stayed back in Indore, his associates — Akash, Vishal, and Anand — allegedly travelled to Assam by train to execute the plan. "The murder weapon was purchased in Guwahati," an officer in Indore said. Sonam reportedly pushed Raja to extend their stay in Shillong - a move now seen as part of a premeditated plan. "All the dots connected to indicate that there was prior planning," SP Syiem said. "We will confirm everything once the accused are interrogated together." Sonam insisted Raja wear jewellery: Mom Raja Raghuvanshi's mother, Uma, recalled subtle signs of trouble in her son's short-lived marriage. 'Raja once told me Sonam wasn't talking to him much. He felt she wasn't interested in him. When I asked her about it, she said she was busy with work at the office. I told her Raja is shy and feels hurt when ignored, and urged her to talk to him more. She spoke very sweetly with me. I had no idea what she was hiding,' Uma said. 'If she was forced into the marriage, she could have simply left my son or eloped, why did she kill him?' she asked repeatedly, her voice heavy with disbelief. 'Raja had done nothing wrong. He loved her. We had accepted her with all our heart. She became our daughter-in-law, part of our family. And this is what she did.' Raja, a 28-year-old transporter, married Sonam on May 11.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
Meghalaya honeymoon murder: Sonam sent her location to Raj Kushwaha during northeast trip, killers trailed couple after Kamakhya temple visit
BHOPAL: Investigators probing the chilling honeymoon murder case revealed that Sonam, who vanished during a trip to the northeast with her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, had been in constant touch with her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha, throughout the journey. According to police, Sonam regularly shared her live location with Raj, who remained in Madhya Pradesh while coordinating with three hired killers to track the couple. The chilling conspiracy was set in motion just days after the wedding, with the group tailing the newlyweds through their northeast itinerary. One of the turning points came when Sonam insisted on a sudden pilgrimage to the Kamakhya temple in Assam, which investigators now believe was a tactic to aid the killers in narrowing down the couple's movements. Sonam, reported missing for over two weeks, was finally located at a highway dhaba in Uttar Pradesh on early Monday, disoriented and alone, nearly 1,200km from the crime scene where her husband's body was found on June 2. Police alleged Sonam, 24, orchestrated the 28-year-old Indore transporter's killing with help from four men with no previous criminal record, one of whom was her boyfriend — Raj Kushwaha, 21, a man employed in her father's business. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo Apart from Raj, the arrested suspects are Akash Rajput, 21, who was caught in Lalitpur (UP), Vishal Singh Chauhan, 22, in Indore, and Anand Kurmi, 23, who was nabbed in MPs Bina. Around 2am on Monday, Sonam was picked up from Kashi Dhaba on VaranasiGhazipur highway after she called her brother from the eatery owner's phone. That triggered a multi-state alert — all her contacts were under surveillance. Indore police coordinated with UP cops to track and secure her before dawn under Nandganj police station limits. She surrendered without resistance. 'She was extremely scared and barely able to speak,' a woman who tried to comfort her told police. Dhaba owner Sahil Yadav's statement has been recorded. UP ADG (law & order) Amitabh Yash said: 'Sonam will be transferred as the case is being led by Meghalaya.' A Ghazipur magistrate granted three-day transit remand for questioning her in Shillong. Meghalaya DGP I Nongrang said Sonam surrendered. 'Three assailants were arrested in overnight raids and one more was caught Monday,' he said. CM Conrad Sangma posted on X: 'Within 7 days a major breakthrough has been achieved... 3 assailants from Madhya Pradesh have been arrested, a female has surrendered... well done #Meghalayapolice.' State tourism minister Paul Lyngdoh alleged the motive was romantic — 'a love triangle that led to a murderfor-hire'. Raja once told me Sonam wasn't talking to him much. He felt she wasn't interested in him. I asked her, and she said she was busy with work at the office. I told her Raja is shy and feels bad when someone ignores him, and asked her to talk to him more often. She spoke very sweetly with me. I had no idea what she was hiding,' said his mother Uma Raghuvanshi. Police say she plotted the murder with her lover, Raj Kushwaha, who worked in her father's business, as did she. Raja, a 28-year-old transporter, married Sonam on May 11. Less than 11 days later, he lay hacked to death in a deep gorge in Meghalaya's Sohra area. His family is struggling to comprehend the alleged betrayal that tore their world apart. The watch and jewellery are missing. 'If she was forced into the marriage, she could have simply left my son or eloped, why did she kill him?' she asked repeatedly, her voice heavy with disbelief. 'Raja had done nothing wrong. He loved her. We had accepted her with all our heart. She became our daughter-in-law, part of our family… And this is what she did...' Sonam stayed at the Raghuvanshi home for four days after their wedding before returning to her parental home for a ritual. Since it was the month of 'Jeth', it was decided she would return later. 'There was no plan for a trip,' the mother recalled. 'Then one day, Raja told me Sonam had booked tickets for Kamakhya Devi temple. He said they were leaving the next day. We didn't suspect anything. Raja shopped for warm clothes and rainwear. She went shopping with him. Everything seemed normal.' 'Before leaving, she made him wear an expensive watch, ring, and chain. I told Raja to avoid wearing jewellery on a trip but I later saw pictures of him at the airport wearing the chain,' his mother said. 'She wore a diamond ring, a bracelet, and a mangalsutra. We had given her bangles, two gold sets — everything. She left dressed as a newlywed bride from our home four days after the marriage… and was found as a murder accused. ' What stings the most is the trust they placed in her. 'We met her through a community social media group,' she said. 'People who knew her family spoke well. We made all enquiries, followed every custom. Nothing seemed wrong.' The family now insists justice must be swift — and unforgiving. 'If she is found guilty, she and all the accused should be hanged,' the mother said, flatly. 'Not just her, but anyone involved — no matter how big the gang, no matter who else is part of it. They all must be punished.' 'She didn't just kill our son,' Uma said. 'She's brought shame to all women. What she did has stained every daughter-in-law who wants to build a new life. She had everything — a good home, a loving husband. She saw our house, she knew we accepted her. Why did she do this?'
