The Meghalaya Police, who were investigating the case, announced that Sonam Raghuvanshi, who had gone missing in Shillong since May 23 had surrendered in UP on Monday.
Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder: The romantic honeymoon visit of a newlywed Indori couple took a dangerous turn in Shillong. 16 days of rigorous search and a plethora of unanswered questions have finally come to a chilling, dramatic end that has shocked everyone. The wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, in the wee hours of Monday, reached a police station in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur and surrendered herself.
The Meghalaya Police, who was investigating the case, announced that Sonam Raghuvanshi, who had gone missing in Shillong since May 23 surrendered in UP, almost 7 days after her husband Raja Raghuvanshi’s decomposed body was found inside a gorge in the Cherrapunji area.
During their honeymoon, Sonam allegedly hired someone to kill Raja Raghuvanshi. A senior Meghalaya police official told the media that this action was linked to Sonam’s suspected affair with a man named – Raj Kushwaha.
Here is the timeline of what we know so far about the chilling case:
- Sonam Raghuvanshi, a 24-year-old woman was taken into custody in Ghazipur on Monday. preliminary investigation revealed it is a case of contract killing, linked to the accused woman’s affair with another man, who is also in custody.
- Sonam’s father rubbished the contract killing charges and alleged that the Meghalaya Police is twisting the case. He has demanded a CBI probe into the case. The father claimed that Sonam told him that she was kidnapped in Meghalaya and she has no clue how she ended up in UP.
- Deceased Raja’s brother alleged that Sonam hired Raj Kushwaha and the two were in frequent contact over phone.
- A Dhaba owner contacted police after Sonam’s brother requested it, reporting that Sonam, found at the establishment late last night, appeared to be mentally unstable.
- A multi-state murder plot involving Raja Raghuvanshi spanned across UP, MP, and Meghalaya. The alleged conspirators were arrested in Indore while the intended victim was detained in UP. The murder took place in Meghalaya, though the planning reportedly originated in Indore.
- An Special Investigation Team was formed by the Meghalaya Police. According to top official Vivek Syiem, the motive of the murder is Sonam’s affair with Kushwaha.
- Raghuvanshi and his wife disappeared during a May 23rd trip to Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district. His body was discovered in a ravine on June 2nd, prompting a continued search for his wife.
- Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma praised state police for solving the case. “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,” he posted on X.
