Latest news with #RajKushwaha
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Sonam left digital footprint by briefly switching on her phone
1 2 Lucknow: A digital footprint left behind by Sonam Raghuvanshi in a bid to note down the phone number of a family member alerted the police. Sonam, who is accused of killing her husband Raja Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, briefly switched on her mobile phone near Ghazipur in eastern UP exposing her precise location, a senior police officer who was a part of team facilitating coordination with Madhya Pradesh and Meghalaya police, said. "Sonam mostly avoided using her own phone after Raja's murder and relied on borrowed devices to contact Raj Kushwaha and others. On June 9, hours before making a call to her brother from a 'dhaba', Sonam briefly switched on her phone, probably to note down the number of a family member. This simultaneously triggered an SOS from Meghalaya and MP police who alerted their counterparts in Uttar Pradesh," the officer said. "The alert, however, subsided as the phone was switched off again. Then we started receiving alerts from MP and Meghalaya police to track the latitudinal and longitudinal location of the phone," he said. In the meantime, surveillance cells zeroed in on the location and another alert from Indore police led the Ghazipur cops to the 'dhaba'. Investigators found that the SIM cards and mobile phones used by the accused for coordination while executing the crime were procured from Indore using the documents of one of the accused Anand Kurmi. The shopkeeper confirmed the sale, and the logbook entries matched police records. "Sonam purchased three mobile phones in Indore. The purchase, facilitated by Raj Kushwaha, included one basic keypad handset and two Android smartphones. All phones were bought using the identity documents of Anand Kurmi, the fourth accused in the case. One of the Android phones was to be used by Sonam. To avoid detection, Sonam did not communicate directly with the hired killers. Instead, she interacted only with Raj, who relayed her instructions to the rest of the gang — believing this would help him outsmart investigators and mask her involvement," the officer said. They later destroyed SIM cards and mobile phones in Shillong to erase evidence.
News18
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
News18 Evening Digest: Accused Sonam Sent To 8-Day Police Custody, Trump Hints Patch-Up With Musk & Other Stories
Last Updated: News18 Evening Digest: Sonam, 'Lover' Raj Kushwaha Sent To Police Custody Till June 19; Donald Trump Says He 'Could' Reconcile With Elon Musk & Other Top Stories News18 Evening Digest: Here are the top stories of the day. Raja Raghuvanshi Murder: Sonam, 'Lover' Raj Kushwaha Sent To Police Custody Till June 19 Sonam, who has been accused of killing his husband Raja Raghuvanshi, was sent to police custody till June 19. Sonam's 'lover" Raj Kushwaha and three others were also sent to police remand for the next eight days by a court in Shillong. Donald Trump Says He 'Could' Reconcile With Elon Musk: 'I Have No Hard Feelings' US President Donald Trump said he 'could" mend ties with Elon Musk, days after a public clash between the two over a key spending bill being pushed by the White House. Passengers aboard an IndiGo flight witnessed a moving moment of recognition when the airline's captain honoured a Border Security Force (BSF) officer for his bravery during Operation Sindoor, India's recent cross-border military action against Pakistan. South Africa captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bowl first against Australia today. Kagiso Rabada jolted Australia with a double-wicket over in which he accounted for Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green. Shilpa Shetty is currently in Croatia for a birthday trip with her husband Raj Kundra, sister Shamita Shetty and other close family members and friends. Recently, a young Instagram user took to the social media site to share a video claiming that Shilpa and her family were arguing with a 'young foreigner' who complained that their group was being too loud. First Published: June 11, 2025, 19:23 IST
India Today
16 hours ago
- India Today
Video: Have mercy, mother appeals to another on live TV in honeymoon murder case
Even as Meghalaya Police continue to peel the layers of the horrific and mysterious honeymoon murder case, the mothers of both victim Raja Raghuvanshi and accused Raj Kushwaha confronted each other on India the discussion, Chunni Devi, mother of Raj Kushwaha — who has been arrested in the case — questioned Raja's mother, Uma Raghuvanshi, over her silence on the alleged involvement of her daughter-in-law, Sonam Kushwaha, the prime accused in the have not one, but two sons and a husband to support you. Who do I have? If something happens to my son, will you be at peace? Tell me, why don't you say anything to your daughter-in-law? The one who is involved in everything, the one who was luring people with money to kill your son. Why did you not teach things to your daughter-in-law?" Chunni Devi asked. In response, Uma Raghuvanshi made it clear she had disowned Sonam the moment she was accused of killing her son."The day she was named in my son's murder, she ceased to be my daughter-in-law. What kind of woman kills her own husband? If your son Raj had backed out of the plan, he would still be with you and my son would be alive with me," Uma Devi said."Why did Raj do this to my son...," Uma Raghuvanshi, mother of Raja Raghuvanshi, asks Raj Kushwaha's mother #ITVideo #SonamRaghuwanshi #OperationHoneymoon #RajaRaghuwanshi IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) June 11, 2025advertisementFurthermore, Chunni Devi urged Raja's mother to show some mercy on her child, pointing out that he was the only brother of her three small children. "Please sister, have some mercy on my son. He has not done anything. After my husband's death, Raj is the only one to take care of my family. He is the only brother to his three young sisters. What will become of us without him," she Uma Devi remained firm, demanding justice. "Raj is involved and he will face punishment. I want justice for my son. Everyone who played a role in his murder should be held accountable, the entire society will punish them.""My son is innocent..." - Raj Kushwaha's mother #ITVideo #SonamRaghuwanshi #OperationHoneymoon #RajaRaghuwanshi | (@poojashali) IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) June 11, 2025After their May 11 wedding in Indore, Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife Sonam travelled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon. The couple went missing on May 23, shortly after checking out of a homestay in Nongriat village. Raja's body was recovered nearly 20 km away on June revealed he was murdered by three men — Akash Rajput (19), Vishal Singh Chauhan (22), and Anand Kurmi — allegedly hired by Sonam. The prime accused, Raj Singh Kushwaha (21), believed to have orchestrated the plan, was arrested who had vanished after the murder, resurfaced in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur on Sunday night and surrendered at Nandganj police Watch
India.com
a day 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
a day 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
