Sonam Raghuwanshi Accused in Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder Case along with her boyfriend
Shillong | June 10, 2025 — A seemingly joyful honeymoon in the scenic hills of Meghalaya turned into a brutal crime scene after Raja, a newlywed, was found murdered in a gorge near Nongriat village. The key accused? His wife, Sonam Raghuwanshi, just four days into her marriage.
What began as a missing person case soon turned into a high-profile murder investigation involving a Special Investigation Team (SIT), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and intelligence agencies.
Disappearance Turns to Murder
Raja and Sonam had married just days before their honeymoon. On May 23, the couple, accompanied by a local guide, were seen near the Nongriat trekking trail with three unknown men. When Raja was reported missing, rescue teams launched an intensive search operation.
The tragic discovery came on June 2, when Raja’s body was recovered from a deep gorge, along with a blood-stained machete, a mobile phone, and a raincoat soaked in blood. Initially, it was suspected to be a robbery gone wrong as Raja’s gold ring and chain were missing, but further evidence pointed to premeditated murder.
Bride Accused of Masterminding Husband’s Death
The case took a shocking turn when Sonam Raghuwanshi was arrested from a dhaba in Uttar Pradesh, and four men — identified as Raj Kushwaha, Akash Rajput (21), Vishal Singh Chauhan (22), and Anand Kurmi (23) — were picked up from Indore, Satna, and Lalitpur.
Investigators revealed that Raj Kushwaha, Sonam’s former lover and a former employee at her family’s business, was allegedly in constant contact with her during the trip. Despite being forced apart by family opposition and her arranged marriage, the two allegedly continued their relationship secretly.
According to East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem, Sonam frequently sent her live location to Raj, who then coordinated the movement of the killers. While Raj stayed in Indore, Akash, Vishal, and Anand allegedly traveled to Assam by train, tracked the couple from Guwahati’s Kamakhya Temple, and followed them to Meghalaya.
The murder weapon, a machete, was reportedly purchased in Guwahati. Investigators believe Sonam persuaded Raja to extend their stay in Shillong, giving the killers time to reach them.
“All the dots connected to indicate that there was prior planning. We will confirm everything once the accused are interrogated together,” said SP Syiem.
Sonam Denies Involvement
Despite the damning digital and circumstantial evidence, Sonam has denied any involvement, claiming she had no part in the murder.
“I didn’t kill my husband. They killed him for the jewellery,” she said, referring to the four men in custody.
Her statement has done little to convince investigators, who assert that the consistency of clues — from travel patterns to eyewitness accounts — point to a carefully crafted murder plot.
Key Evidence and Breakthroughs
Several elements helped crack the case:
- Digital footprint: Constant GPS sharing from Sonam to Raj.
- Eyewitness account: Local guide Albert Pde saw the couple with three Hindi-speaking men.
- Physical evidence: Machete, phone, and raincoat found near Raja’s body.
- Surveillance tracking: Raj’s calls and the travel routes of the other accused were traced.
The arrests were made in a coordinated inter-state operation, following days of technical surveillance and interrogation.