Shillong/Indore, June 13, 2025 — The shocking murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, an Indore resident who vanished during his honeymoon in Meghalaya, has led to the arrest of his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, her alleged lover, and three contract killers, Meghalaya Police confirmed.
What initially appeared to be a tragic accident has now unravelled into a pre-planned murder conspiracy, allegedly orchestrated by Raja’s wife Sonam and her partner Raj Singh Kushwaha.
🔍 Last Known Footage Emerges
Adding a chilling dimension to the case, a travel vlogger named Dev Singh shared what could be the last video of Raja and Sonam together on Instagram. The clip shows the couple trekking towards the famous double-decker living root bridge in Meghalaya.
“It was around 9:45 am. We were descending while the couple was going up after staying the night in Nongriat village. Sonam was wearing the same white shirt which was later found near Raja,” Singh wrote in the caption, hoping the footage might assist the police in piecing together the sequence of events.
📅 Timeline of Events
- May 20: The couple arrived in Shillong, Meghalaya, for their honeymoon.
- May 23: Raja Raghuvanshi went missing.
- June 2: His body was discovered under suspicious circumstances.
- Later: Sonam was found at a roadside eatery (dhaba) in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, over 1,200 km away, and taken into custody.
- Police Custody: A Shillong court has remanded the five accused to eight days of police custody.
🧾 List of Accused
- Sonam Raghuvanshi – Wife of the victim; alleged mastermind
- Raj Singh Kushwaha – Sonam’s alleged lover
- Akash Rajput – Contract killer
- Vishal Singh Chauhan – Contract killer
- Anand Kurmi – Contract killer
Police allege that Sonam and Raj conspired to eliminate Raja during the honeymoon and hired the other three to carry out the murder.
🧩 Key Evidence and Investigation
Investigators are working to connect the dots, using:
- Dev Singh’s video footage from the root bridge trail
- Call records, clothing, and travel logs
- Statements from locals in Nongriat and nearby villages
- Sonam’s surrender and confession details
A senior police official confirmed that the case is being treated as premeditated homicide, and further leads are being followed.