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India.com
11 hours ago
- India.com
Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder: New Twist In Sonam-Raja Raghuvanshi Case
Raja Raghuvanshi Murder Case: In a shocking turn of events, the honeymoon of Raja Raghuvanshi turned into a nightmare, ending in his brutal murder. The prime accused, his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi, has been arrested, revealing a complex web of deceit and betrayal that has left the nation stunned. With its twists and turns, this case has captivated the nation, leaving many wondering how such a tragedy could unfold. The investigation has revealed that Sonam and Raj Kushwaha allegedly plotted to eliminate Raja for a fresh start. Here are 10 key developments so far: Timeline of the incident: 1. Transit Remand Granted: The Meghalaya Police has been granted a three-day transit remand for Sonam Raghuvanshi, allowing them to take her to Shillong for further investigation. 2. Investigation Unfolds: Sonam is being taken to Shillong to recreate the crime scene and gather more evidence. The police are working to piece together the events surrounding Raja's murder. Police believe Sonam was alive and involved in the case based on her phone records and conversations with Raj Kushwaha. According to the Police, there are clear signs of frequent contact between Sonam and Raj Kushwaha through encrypted apps before and during the honeymoon. 3. Sonam's Alleged Involvement: According to the police, Sonam conspired with her alleged boyfriend, Raj Kushwaha, to kill Raja during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. Raj Kushwaha allegedly hired contract killers to carry out the murder. Raj orchestrated the plan from Indore while his three childhood friends — Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi — were allegedly sent to Meghalaya to carry out the murder. Sonam Raghuvanshi had offered Rs 4 lakh to hired killers for the murder of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi, sources said, adding she later raised the amount to Rs 20 lakh. According to top police sources, Sonam helped the other accused in pushing Raghuvanshi's body into a gorge in Meghalaya. 4. Raj Kushwaha's Role: Raj Kushwaha was seen consoling Sonam's father at Raja's funeral, sparking outrage and raising questions about the family's knowledge of their relationship. According to the police, he allegedly hired contract killers to carry out the murder, and his role in the crime is being investigated further. According to Police Raj, in his statement has also revealed that following the murder, Sonam destroyed her mobile phone to erase evidence. Sonam assured Raj that once she became a widow, her father would approve of their marriage. Raj also said that Sonam planned to pass off the murder as a robbery to mislead investigators. 5. Arrests and Investigation: Five people have been arrested in connection with Raja's murder, including Sonam, Raj Kushwaha, and three hired accomplices. Meghalaya's Shillong Police, along with Indore Crime Branch, on Tuesday searched the Indore residence of one of the four accused, Vishal Singh Chauhan, reported ANI. 6. Financial Transactions: The police are probing financial transactions between Sonam, Raj Kushwaha, and the accused killers to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy. Meanwhile, Raja's mother, Uma Raghuvanshi, said Sonam planned for their honeymoon and took ₹9 lakhs from Raja to book tickets and hotels. She even insisted on taking all the jewellery with them on the honeymoon. 6. Raj Kushwaha's Relationship with Sonam's Family: Raj Kushwaha worked in the billing department of a plywood unit owned by Sonam's family and had a close relationship with them. This has raised questions about the family's knowledge of their relationship. 7. Sonam's Claim: Sonam claimed she was kidnapped and abandoned in Uttar Pradesh, but the police believe she was involved in the crime and surrendered after learning of Raj Kushwaha's arrest. The investigation has revealed that Sonam attempted to mislead the police, posting from Raja's social media account after his murder to make it seem like he was still alive. 8. Murder Weapon and Autopsy Report: The murder weapon, a dao (machete), was brought from Guwahati and seemed to be a new one, indicating premeditation. According to the preliminary autopsy report, Raja was hit on the back and front of his head. 9. Raja's Family Seeks Justice: Raja's family, particularly his sister Shrasti, a social media influencer, has been actively documenting the developments of the murder case on Instagram, seeking justice for Raja. Meanwhile, Sonam's father denied her involvement in the murder and demanded a CBI probe in the case. Raja's mother has demanded strict punishment for Sonam if she's found guilty. On the other hand, Vipin Raghuvanshi, the brother of the deceased Raja Raghuvanshi, said that his brother's wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, who is accused of plotting the murder along with her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha, came to UP's Ghazipur with two people. He also claimed Sonam's mother knew about the alleged affair but kept it from others. 10. Ongoing Investigation: The investigation is ongoing, with further revelations expected to come to light in this case. Madhya Pradesh CM has reacted to the incident and has said, "The Sonam Raghuvanshi-Raja Raghuvanshi incident is a lesson to society as well as a very painful incident. It teaches us several lessons. When two families come together through marriage, things need to be taken care of very minutely. Letting children go so far also needs to be thought about. I am hurt by this incident." As the investigation continues, the nation is left to ponder the shocking details of this case. The murder of Raja Raghuvanshi has brought to light the dark underbelly of human relationships, where love and trust can turn to deceit and betrayal. The police are working tirelessly to bring justice to Raja's family, and it remains to be seen what further revelations will come to light in this case.
News18
13 hours ago
- News18
Sonam Planned To Pass Off Raja's Murder As Robbery Gone Wrong, A Lie Became Her Undoing
Last Updated: Prime accused in her husband's murder case, Sonam Raghuvanshi allegedly planned to live as a widow for a while before trying to convince her family to let her marry Raj Kushwaha With her husband Raja Raghuvanshi out of the way, Sonam Raghuvanshi allegedly planned to live as a widow for a while before trying to convince her family to let her marry Raj Kushwaha. Now, Sonam Raghuvanshi and Raj Kushwaha are in custody and the prime accused in the horrific murder case of Raja Raghuvanshi, who never returned from his honeymoon trip to Meghalaya. His wife, who allegedly wanted to stage his murder as a robbery gone wrong, was caught in a lie – the undoing of best-laid plans, in this case a bone-chilling murder plot. The alleged plan started unravelling soon after the police got hold of the first clue – a phone call by Sonam to her mother-in-law Uma Raghuvanshi. The special investigation team (SIT) probing the murder got access to an audio call between the two women, in which the accused informed the other woman about a fasting for Raja's good health. Later, when the investigators tracked the owner of the hotel where the couple was staying, they found that this was, in fact, a lie as she had eaten a meal that day. According to a report published by The Indian Express, the SIT grew suspicious and decided to mount technical surveillance on her. This led to the discovery that she was in constant touch with Kushwaha, police said. 'We found that she had consumed food. We also found that she was in touch with the main accused, Raj Kushwaha. The plan was to pass this off as a robbery gone wrong," Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills, Vivek Syiem told The Indian Express. Raja and Sonam, both residents of Indore, had gone missing during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. Raja's body was later found in a gorge in Sohra in the East Khasi Hills district on June 2. Late on Sunday (June 9), Sonam surrendered before the police in Ghazipur district, while four accused, including Kushwaha, were arrested from different areas of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Investigators said Sonam left her home with jewellery and also asked her husband to wear gold to pass this off as a robbery gone wrong. Raja's mother told reporters that her son was wearing gold worth more than Rs 10 lakh, on a request from his wife. 'This is what our investigation has found. The couple had not booked return flight tickets. They had initially made plans to visit a temple in Guwahati. Then they chose to visit Meghalaya, and this very spot must have been chosen to commit the crime since a tourist recently went missing here and his body was found in the gorge after he suffered a fall. We are still investigating why the Meghalaya trip was planned," Syiem was quoted. First Published: June 10, 2025, 18:02 IST
News18
14 hours ago
- News18
After Husband's Murder, Sonam Raghuvanshi Returned to Indore, Spent A Day With 'Lover': Report
Last Updated: After the murder, Sonam reportedly boarded a train and reached Indore on May 25, and without raising any suspicion, checked into a rented room with her lover Raj Kushwaha The most chilling twist yet has emerged in the murder of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, and it revolves around his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi. In a revelation that could reshape the trajectory of the investigation, News18 Hindi has learned from sources in the Meghalaya Police that Sonam not only witnessed her husband's brutal murder but also calmly returned to Indore afterward, where she spent an entire day with her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha before fleeing to Uttar Pradesh. According to a detailed probe led by a 20-member core team of the Meghalaya Police, supported closely by the Indore Police, Sonam's involvement is no longer just a suspicion, but a cornerstone of what officials have dubbed 'Operation Honeymoon". The murder, which occurred just days after the couple's wedding, is now being called a 'premeditated execution" carried out with chilling precision. As per News18 Hindi, the sequence began on May 21, when Sonam and three accused accomplices arrived in Guwahati and checked into a hotel located near the homestay she operated. On May 23, Raja Raghuvanshi was murdered, and police now confirm Sonam was present during the killing. CCTV footage reportedly places her just 10 kilometres from the scene, alongside the prime suspects. What followed was even more shocking. The very day of the murder, Sonam reportedly boarded a train to Indore. She reached the city on May 25, and without raising any suspicion, checked into a rented room with her lover Raj Kushwaha, said News18 Hindi in an exclusive report. Digital Trails And Chilling Clues Throughout this period, investigators observed continuous communication between Sonam and Raj. The contents of those conversations, officials say, further established their involvement and motive. According to News18 Hindi, police have also retrieved over 42 CCTV clips from across Guwahati, including footage showing the accused buying the murder weapon from a store just outside their hotel. One particularly telling moment, investigators say, came at night when Sonam was taken to the Sakhi Centre. Her statements there, combined with forensic inconsistencies, raised deep suspicion. The couple's decision not to take a single wedding photograph and a suspicious social media post from Raja's account – believed to have been made by Sonam herself – added to the mounting evidence. The post, eerily timed around the murder, read, 'We are together for seven lives". From Indore To Shillong Police say Sonam's conspiracy was hatched barely five days after the marriage, with a motive clear to remove Raja and be with Raj. When a contract killer was arrested in Indore, the investigation quickly closed in on Raj Kushwaha. Feeling the heat, Sonam allegedly staged her reappearance, attempting to shift suspicion, but by then it was too late. According to News18 Hindi, a blood-soaked shirt belonging to one of the accused, Akash, was recovered at the crime scene. Sonam's own raincoat was found discarded six kilometres away, an apparent attempt to confuse the trail. Anand Kurmi, another accused, was arrested wearing the same clothes he had worn during the murder, sealing the chain of evidence. After the killing, all suspects regrouped 11 kilometres from the crime site, another location traced through a network of digital surveillance and local enquiries. Investigators even reviewed all mobile numbers active across a 50-kilometre radius, ultimately zeroing in on the suspects through triangulation. According to sources quoted by News18 Hindi, Sonam had told Raj shortly after their wedding, 'Yes, marriage has happened, but…" – a chilling precursor to the conspiracy that would soon unfold.
News18
14 hours ago
- News18
Honeymoon Murder: Did Sonam Plot Raja's Killing In 6-Hr Phone Call 5 Days After Wedding?
Last Updated: Call records and witness statements indicate a six-hour phone conversation between Sonam and her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha, from 9 pm to 3 am on May 16-17 In the shocking honeymoon murder case spanning several Indian states, police investigations have revealed a disturbing plot involving Sonam Raghuvanshi, wife of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi. She is alleged to have conspired with her lover, Raj Kushwaha, to murder her husband just five days after their wedding. The couple disappeared on May 23 during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. Following a police search, Raja's body was discovered on June 2, and Sonam was subsequently arrested in the early hours of June 9 in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur. Sources close to the investigation have disclosed chilling details to Bhaskar English. Sonam married Raja Raghuvanshi on May 11. However, by May 16, just five days later, she had allegedly begun plotting against him. Call records and witness statements indicate a six-hour phone conversation between Sonam and her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha, from 9 pm to 3 am on May 17. Police believe this call was when the conspiracy to murder Raja was hatched. The plan was swiftly put into action. On May 17, Raj Kushwaha met with three childhood friends: Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi, all residents of Indore's Nandbag area. This meeting took place at a cafe behind the TCS office on Indore's Super Corridor, a secluded location chosen for its discretion. Police believe the details of the murder plot were finalised at this meeting, including the method of attack, timing, and an escape strategy designed to make the crime appear accidental. A total of five people, including Sonam, Raj Kushwaha, Vishal Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi, have been arrested so far in the case. First Published: June 10, 2025, 16:36 IST
The Independent
15 hours ago
- The Independent
Wife and her alleged lover arrested for orchestrating murder of man on honeymoon
A 25-year-old woman who went missing after her husband was found murdered on their honeymoon in northeast India has surrendered to police – and is now the prime suspect. Initially suspected to have been abducted or killed, Sonam Raghuvanshi is now accused of directing three men to kill her newlywed husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, 30. The alleged killers have been arrested. Investigators suspect Ms Raghuvanshi's love affair with a man named Raj Kushwaha, 21, to be the motive for the murder. Mr Kushwaha has been arrested as well. The newlywed couple from Indore in Madhya Pradesh went missing four days into their honeymoon in the northeastern state of Meghalaya. After a week-long search, police recovered Mr Raghuvanshi's body from a Meghalaya gorge, his throat slit and valuables missing. Investigations by the Madhya Pradesh police have revealed, they said, that the bride likely orchestrated the killing with her alleged lover. According to the investigators, Ms Raghuvanshi allegedly shared live location details of the couple's movements with hired killers while on their honeymoon. Mr Kushwaha stayed back in Indore, they said, ensuring that he was seen at Ms Raghuvanshi's family home during the time the crime was committed so as to create an alibi. He was even spotted with Ms Raghuvanshi's grieving father at the murdered groom's funeral, the police said. 'The accused allegedly planned to kill Raja in a distant place and dump his body in an inaccessible area. Kushwaha allegedly stayed put in Indore so that he had an alibi,' a senior police officer told The Indian Express, adding that he was in constant touch with Ms Raghuvanshi in the days before the murder, 'which raised suspicions'. On Monday, Meghalaya police chief Idashisha Nongrang confirmed that Ms Raghuvanshi had surrendered at the Nandganj police station in northern Uttar Pradesh state's Ghazipur. 'One person was picked up from Uttar Pradesh and another two accused were apprehended from Indore,' he was quoted as saying by the BBC, referring to the alleged killers. 'Sonam surrendered at the Nandganj police station and was subsequently arrested.' At a press conference later on Monday, superintendent of police Vivek Syiem said a fourth man had been held in Meghalaya that morning in connection with the case. While he did not explain a motive for the murder, he identified Ms Raghuvanshi as 'the main suspect'. Mr Kushwaha met Ms Raghuvanshi two years ago while he was working in her family's plywood business and she was in HR. He lived near her family home but later moved to Nandbagh, the locality where the three men arrested for killing the groom stayed. According to the investigators, it was Mr Kushwaha who hired Vishal Chauhan, Akash Rajput and Anand Kurmi to carry out the killing. A breakthrough in the investigation came when a local guide reported seeing Ms Raghuvanshi walking behind her husband and the three alleged attackers near the murder site. Mr Raghuvanshi's mother has alleged that her daughter-in-law planned the honeymoon trip and took Rs 900,000 (£7,790) from Mr Raghuvanshi to pay for it. She also persuaded Mr Raghuvanshi to carry along expensive jewellery over the family's objections. She also claimed her son had expressed doubts about the wedding, saying Ms Raghuvanshi was not showing any interest in him. When they confronted her about it, Ms Raghuvanshi blamed work and began engaging with her would-be husband. The mother also suggested Ms Raghuvanshi could have arranged money for the killers – a claim now under investigation. Ms Raghuvanshi's father, Devi Singh, told ANI she had reached a roadside eatery in Ghazipur and borrowed a phone to call her brother, who then informed the police. Mr Singh claimed his daughter 'somehow managed to escape her captors' and insisted she was innocent. He also accused the Meghalaya police of 'making up stories' and appealed to Indian home minister Amit Shah for a federal investigation.
