Grisly conspiracy unravels in Meghalaya as newlywed bride Sonam allegedly plotted husband’s murder with her lover; ₹15,000 stolen from victim’s wallet used as initial payment to killers.
Shillong/Ghazipur, June 11 – A shocking honeymoon murder has gripped the nation after Sonam Raghuvanshi, accused of orchestrating the killing of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi, was arrested and brought to Shillong on Tuesday night following her surrender in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. According to Meghalaya Police, Sonam paid a staggering ₹20 lakh to contract killers after the brutal murder of her husband in Sohra, Meghalaya.
Authorities revealed that Sonam handed over ₹15,000 in cash, taken directly from her husband’s wallet, to the killers immediately after the crime was committed. This was allegedly followed by a promise — and later delivery — of a significantly larger sum amounting to ₹20 lakh.
Sonam’s arrest comes just a day after police detained her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha and three contract killers from Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
“Raj Kushwaha claims he didn’t want to support Sonam and cancelled his plan to travel to Meghalaya. He allegedly asked the three others not to go either. But the trio proceeded, supposedly to visit Meghalaya after Sonam booked their tickets,” a senior police officer from Indore, assisting in the investigation, told Hindustan Times.
“Even at the last moment, the three initially refused to kill, but Sonam insisted and promised ₹15 lakh. We are verifying these claims,” the officer added.
Murder on the Honeymoon
The case first came to light when the couple, who married on May 11, went missing during their honeymoon trip on May 23. Ten days later, Raja’s body was recovered from a gorge near a waterfall in Sohra in the East Khasi Hills district. Police suspect the murder occurred on the same day the couple was reported missing.
Investigators now believe that the entire crime was meticulously pre-planned by Sonam and her boyfriend Raj Kushwaha, both residents of Indore, Madhya Pradesh. According to East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem, the FIR clearly states Raja was murdered with a dao (machete) and his valuables were stolen.
“Sonam’s involvement in paying the killers and offering a large sum afterwards strongly points to a conspiracy. We are analysing all evidence to ensure a thorough investigation,” said SP Syiem.
Gruesome Details from the Crime Scene
As per police accounts, the killers posed as fellow tourists and befriended the couple before executing the plan. One of the alleged killers told police that Sonam feigned exhaustion before reaching a secluded area, signalled the killers to move behind Raja, and instructed them to carry out the fatal attack.
A police officer said that Sonam and the accused will be taken to the crime scene to recreate the murder sequence for corroboration. Investigators are also planning to confront Sonam, Kushwaha, and the three alleged killers with the collected evidence.
Meanwhile, although Raj Kushwaha did not accompany Sonam to Meghalaya, he allegedly remained in constant contact over the phone, helping coordinate the crime remotely.
Investigation Continues
The investigation is now focusing on digital evidence, call records, and financial transactions to substantiate the conspiracy. Police say that the ₹20 lakh payment indicates not only premeditation but also an attempt to silence or compensate the killers post-crime.
With arrests made across multiple states and a sordid tale of betrayal, romance, and murder emerging, the Meghalaya Police and their counterparts in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are working in close coordination to ensure a watertight case.