Wife Surrenders, Three Arrested in Shocking Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder Case
Eighteen days after newlyweds from Madhya Pradesh went missing during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, the case has taken a grim turn.
The husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, was found dead last week, and three accused from Madhya Pradesh have now been arrested, while his wife, Sonam, surrendered to the police.
Major Breakthrough in Investigation
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma confirmed the development on Monday morning, stating, “Within 7 days, a major breakthrough has been achieved by the Meghalaya Police in the Raja murder case… 3 assailants who are from Madhya Pradesh have been arrested, female has surrendered, and the operation is still on to catch one more assailant.”
DGP Idashisha Nongrang revealed that Sonam allegedly orchestrated her husband’s murder by hiring contract killers. She surrendered at Nandganj police station in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur district and was subsequently arrested.
Arrests Across States
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) picked up one suspect from Uttar Pradesh and apprehended two others from Indore.
The three arrested are Akash Rajput (19) from Lalitpur, Vishal Singh Chauhan (22), and Raj Singh Kushwaha (21) from Indore. Another suspect, Anand Kurmi (23), was arrested from Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district.
The victim and his wife, who had married just last month, disappeared while traveling in Sohra, Meghalaya.
Their relatives launched a search after being unable to reach them, prompting a large-scale operation involving police, SDRF, NDRF, and drones. Raja’s decomposed body was discovered in a gorge near Wei Sawdong Falls using drone surveillance.
Case Turns Toward Homicide
Police recovered a local weapon, a dao, near Raja’s body, which was identified as the murder weapon. An SIT led by SP (City) East Khasi Hills Herbert Pynniaid Kharkongor was formed to investigate.
Sonam remained untraceable until her surrender. CCTV footage from their hotel stays was reviewed, providing leads.
The Raghuvanshis had checked into Balaji Guest House in Shillong on May 21, rented a scooty the next morning, and headed toward Cherrapunji. They trekked to Shipara Homestay in Nongriat village and were last seen together on May 23, the morning they checked out.
Sequence of Events Unfolds
After leaving the homestay, they went missing. Sonam’s last phone call to her mother-in-law from Nongriat revealed she was breathless from the trek. The guide who had accompanied them initially said the couple didn’t hire him on their return.
Their rented scooty was later found abandoned in Sohrarim village, intensifying the mystery. By May 25, the scooty’s owner had informed the police.
On May 26, police launched searches in Sohrarim. On June 2, Raja’s semi-decomposed body was discovered. The next day, his phone and the murder weapon were also found, confirming homicide.
Surveillance Footage and Surrender
On June 5, blurry CCTV footage surfaced from the Shillong hotel, and Chief Minister Sangma vowed justice. Sonam remained missing, leading her family to fear she had been kidnapped. Her brother, Govind, urged for a CBI investigation.
June 8 brought more footage showing the couple arriving at the homestay. Later that night, Sonam appeared in Ghazipur, contacted her brother, and was picked up by police at Kashi Dhaba.
She had a mild fever. While UP police said she was arrested after being found, Meghalaya police insisted she surrendered under pressure.
Sonam was arrested along with three others, and will be handed over to Indore Police. Meghalaya Inspector General Dalton P Marak confirmed her surrender and added that one accused is still at large.
Family Disputes Allegations
Sonam’s father denied her involvement, claiming the Meghalaya police fabricated the story. Meanwhile, Meghalaya police confirmed that the four arrested, including Sonam, are being investigated for plotting Raja’s murder during their honeymoon.
Footage from the homestay showed the couple in matching black jackets, carrying a white suitcase.
Meghalaya DGP I Nongrang stated, “Four persons, including the wife, were arrested in connection with the Indore man’s murder in Meghalaya.” She added, “The wife was allegedly involved in the Indore man’s murder during honeymoon in Meghalaya. She had hired killers.”
Calls for CBI Probe
Raja’s family appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a CBI inquiry, doubting the state police’s capability.
His brother Vipul said, “We want the PM and the Chief Minister to extend their support to us, and a CBI investigation should be conducted into the matter.”
A local guide from Mawlakhiat said he saw the couple with three men on May 23, climbing stairs from Nongriat. He confirmed the couple had declined his service earlier and hired another guide.
