Shillong: The police achieved a major breakthrough in the murder of Indore resident Raja Raghuvanshi during his honeymoon in Meghalaya after arresting his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, along with three other accused.
Meghalaya DGP I Nongrang on Monday morning said Raghuvanshi was allegedly killed by men hired by his wife during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. The DGP said the deceased’s wife, Sonam, surrendered before the police in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur, while three other assailants were arrested in overnight raids– two from Indore and one from UP. The accused reportedly confessed to the murder-for-hire plot during interrogation.
Necessary legal protocols are being followed for her transit and statement, Meghalaya police said.
“This outcome is the result of round-the-clock efforts by the Meghalaya Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), supported by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), local intelligence units, and law enforcement agencies across multiple states,” police said in a statement.
“Despite geographical and logistical challenges, and sustained public and media scrutiny, our teams remained steadfast in their commitment to upholding the rule of law,” it said.
It further stated, “We take this moment to reaffirm that the Meghalaya Police is committed to delivering justice with integrity, professionalism, and perseverance. We are deeply grateful to the families, the citizens of Meghalaya, and our inter-state counterparts for their cooperation and support throughout this complex investigation.”
Sonam Raghuvanshi, who had been missing since the murder of her husband, surrendered on Sunday late evening at Nandganj Police Station in the Gazipur district.
From prima facie investigations, it has been confirmed that Sonam Raghuvanshi masterminded the murder of her husband.
Teams from the Meghalaya and Indore police are expected to reach Ghazipur on Monday (June 9) to continue the investigation. Police will escort Sonam to Meghalaya to recreate the crime scene where Raja Raghuvanshi was found dead.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has hailed Meghalaya Police for the breakthrough.
In a tweet, he said, “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 operation still on to catch 1 more assailant..well done Meghalaya Police”.
Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi, newlyweds from Indore, arrived in Meghalaya for their honeymoon in May. On May 22, the couple reached Mawlakhiyat village and undertook the steep 3,000-step trek to Nongriat, known for its iconic living root bridges. They spent the night in a homestay and were last seen checking out the next morning. Their rented scooter was later found abandoned on May 24 near a cafe along the Shillong–Sohra road. After days of no contact, Raja was reported missing.
On June 2, Raja’s decomposed body was found inside a deep gorge near Weisawdong Falls. His identity was confirmed by a tattoo on his hand—“Raja and a lady”—and a waterproof smartwatch he had borrowed from his brother. Missing items included his wallet, four mobile phones, and gold jewellery.
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Police recovered a raincoat believed to belong to the couple in nearby Mawkma village and later found one of Raja’s mobile phones. A ‘dao’ (machete), believed to be the murder weapon, was also recovered by the East Khasi Hills police.
