BHOPAL: Just a week after her wedding on May 11, Sonam Raghuvanshi allegedly conspired with her lover Raj Kushwaha to murder her husband Raja Raghuvanshi, police said Monday, hours after Sonam surrendered in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur. This came following the arrest of three hired assassins.
According to Indore’s Additional Deputy Police Commissioner Rajesh Dandotiya, Sonam and Raj—who were in a relationship for about two years—decided that Raja had to be eliminated so they could be together.
Raj allegedly arranged for three men—Vishal Chauhan alias Vikki, Anand Kurmi, and Akash Thakur—to carry out the murder. “Their plan was to kill Raja in a remote location, hide the body so it wouldn’t be found, and then live happily,” said Dandotiya.
Honeymoon Turns Fatal
The couple left for their honeymoon in Meghalaya’s Sohra area in East Khasi Hills on May 20. They went missing on May 23, and Raja’s body was discovered in a gorge on June 2. The murder weapon—a machete—became the first major clue.
“The machete wasn’t common to this region,” said a Meghalaya police officer. “It raised our suspicions. When we checked the couple’s call records, we found Sonam had contacted one of the killers just days before the murder, and his last known location was the same as hers.”
Following this lead, police traced Sonam to Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh, where she was found at a roadside dhaba. Simultaneously, Meghalaya Police coordinated with Indore Police and arrested:
- Raj Kushwaha and Vishal Chauhan in Indore
- Akash Thakur in Lalitpur, UP
- Anand Kurmi from Bina in Sagar, MP
The Love Affair Behind the Crime
Police revealed that Sonam (25) and Raj (21) met when he worked in her brother’s plywood factory. Their relationship began then but was opposed by Sonam’s family once discovered. Raj eventually moved away, and in October 2024, Sonam was introduced to Raja Raghuvanshi through a family-arranged meeting.
The wedding was planned for 2025, but Sonam’s father allegedly pushed for an early marriage. Sonam took the lead in planning the honeymoon, allegedly persuading Raja to give her ₹9 lakh for bookings.
Family Speaks Out
Raja’s mother, Uma Raghuvanshi, said Sonam insisted on the honeymoon and took all her jewelry with her. “She didn’t book return tickets. Raja said they would be back in six to seven days. His phone was switched off from May 23, and I last spoke to Sonam on May 24,” she said, demanding capital punishment for all the accused.
Vipin Raghuvanshi, Raja’s elder brother, added, “Sonam and her brother used to talk to Raj often, which we thought was business-related. Now, we suspect their involvement in the crime.”
However, Sonam’s father, Devi Singh, expressed disbelief, saying, “My daughter cannot kill anyone. I demand a CBI inquiry. But if she really got Raja killed, she should be hanged.”