The police first opened an inquiry after the honeymoon of a newlywed couple went missing. The case, though, turned ugly within days when Sonam Raghuvanshi was found to be the prime suspect in the murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi.
Married on May 10 in Indore, Raja and Sonam went to Shillong on May 21. Two days later, Raja’s decomposed body was found at the bottom of a gorge near Sohra (Cherrapunji), with fatal head injuries. The brutality of the crime has left the country stunned, and new information is coming out every day.
Four Men Arrested; Sonam’s Role Confirmed by Police
Assistant Commissioner of Police Poonam Chand Yadav said four men who were arrested over the murder confessed and implicated Sonam’s active involvement. “She witnessed her husband die,” ACP Yadav asserted, adding that the first fatal blow was administered by accused Vishal Thakur.
Sonam’s Alleged Role: Planner and Silent Witness
Police investigators are convinced that the killing was meticulously organized, and Sonam was the key player all along. The couple took a trek to a nearby waterfall on May 23, accompanied covertly by contract killers—Vishal Thakur, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kuli. Sonam reportedly gave live location information to the attackers.
During the hike, Sonam allegedly pretended to get tired and knowingly fell behind Raja and the attackers. After reaching a remote location, she is said to have instructed the attackers to finish her husband off. The three men had initially been reluctant because they were tired, but they were allegedly convinced by Sonam’s higher offer of ₹20 lakh.
Sources say Sonam also facilitated the disposal of Raja’s body by aiding in the burial of him in a ditch. The autopsy report indicated that Raja had two head injuries, one at the front and the other at the back of his head.
A machete-type weapon recovered close to the scene, which is suspected to have inflicted the lethal injuries on Raja, is thought to have been imported from outside the area, supporting the premeditation theory. The weapon has been sent for forensic analysis.
The Last Message Triggers Suspicion
Raja’s mother, Uma Raghuvanshi, reported to police that she received a voice mail from Sonam on May 23—the day Raja died. Sonam sounded out of breath in the voice message, saying she was “trekking” and “not breaking her fast.” No one heard from Sonam again until her surrender in Uttar Pradesh on June 9.
Families Speak Out Amidst Allegations
Raja’s brother Vipul Raghuvanshi publicly blamed Sonam and her relatives for conspiracy in the murder. “This was a premeditated killing. We want justice. I want a CBI probe,” he stated.
Sonam’s family, meanwhile, firmly maintains that Kushwaha is innocent, and additionally, Sonam’s father has blamed Meghalaya Police for “spinning yarns.”
