Raj revealed the whole truth in the remand room, Sonam had pushed him into the ditch! Raja Raghuv…

.
.

A Honeymoon of Deception: Inside the Chilling Murder of Raja Raghuvanshi

What was meant to be a celebration of love and union turned into one of India’s most shocking murder cases. The tragic story of Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife Sonam has become a nationwide topic of debate, blending betrayal, premeditation, and cold-blooded execution in what is now known as the “Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder Case.”

As the gruesome details unfold, the investigation has revealed not just a murder, but a meticulously crafted conspiracy orchestrated by none other than the victim’s wife herself—Sonam.

A Wedding Followed by Death

Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam were married on May 11, 2025, in Indore, amidst celebrations and blessings from family and friends. The couple appeared happy and in love, embarking on a honeymoon to the serene hills of Meghalaya shortly after their nuptials. But behind Sonam’s smiles was a sinister plan that had been brewing for months.

On May 23, Raja’s dead body was discovered at the bottom of a gorge near Cherrapunji. Initially suspected to be a tragic accident, the post-mortem report revealed deep wounds to his head and chest, indicating that he had been brutally attacked. Investigators quickly ruled out misadventure and began digging into what became a harrowing case of premeditated murder.

The Shocking Confession

The turning point came when Raj Kushwaha—Sonam’s boyfriend—was arrested. During police interrogation, he confessed to being part of the conspiracy to kill Raja. He claimed that Sonam was the mastermind behind the murder and that they had planned it together for months. According to Raj, Sonam told him, “Once I become a widow, my family will agree to our marriage.”

This revelation stunned both police and the public. Raj’s confession painted Sonam not as a victim, but as the central figure behind a chilling murder plot.

The Affair and the Plan

Sonam and Raj had been in a relationship for five months prior to her marriage to Raja. Sonam’s family, especially her father who was a heart patient, insisted she marry someone chosen by them—Raja Raghuvanshi. Sonam reluctantly agreed, but she had already devised a plan to eliminate Raja after the wedding so she could reunite with her lover.

Just five days after the wedding, on May 16, Sonam met Raj at a cafe on Indore’s Super Corridor. There, they finalized the murder plot. Raj involved three of his friends—Vishal Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi—promising them money in exchange for helping him carry out the murder.

Raj gave Sonam a keypad phone, a new Android phone, and a fresh SIM card to ensure constant communication without being traced. He also paid for her devices in advance.

The Execution in Meghalaya

When Sonam informed Raj that she would be heading to Shillong on May 22 with Raja for their honeymoon, Raj booked train tickets for his accomplices to follow them. He, however, stayed in Indore to avoid suspicion and coordinated the entire plan remotely.

On May 23, the killers purchased a small axe (known as a “dao”) online and stayed just 1 km from the couple’s homestay in Cherrapunji. Sonam kept sharing her location with the conspirators, guiding them throughout the day.

That afternoon around 1:30 PM, she convinced Raja to go for a photoshoot in a secluded hilly area. The attackers followed. The terrain was steep, and initially the attackers hesitated, complaining of exhaustion. At that point, Sonam allegedly offered them ₹20 lakhs to ensure the job would be done.

Once Raja and Sonam reached the isolated spot, the attackers struck. Akash monitored from a distance while the other two approached and launched a surprise attack. Raja tried to fight back but succumbed to heavy blows to his head and chest. As he lay semi-conscious, Vishal struck again, and Sonam reportedly shouted, “Kill him!”

When the attackers failed to lift Raja’s body, Sonam herself allegedly pushed her husband into the gorge.

Covering the Tracks

After the murder, Sonam handed over ₹15,000 from Raja’s wallet to the attackers, promising the rest of the payment later. She then rode back with the attackers on the rented scooter, which they abandoned 25 km away.

In front of the killers, Sonam destroyed her phone and threw it into a river to eliminate any chance of location tracking. She then left Meghalaya and traveled alone to Varanasi. From there, she made her way to Ghazipur, where she was eventually tracked and arrested after making a call to her family from a roadside dhaba.

The Chilling Confession

While being transported back to Indore by the police, Sonam began to talk. She admitted that she never intended to maintain the marriage and had decided before the wedding that she would eventually have Raja killed. She confirmed that it was Raj Kushwaha who kept reminding her that once Raja was gone, her family would agree to their marriage.

Although she admitted Raja was a good person who loved her, she complained that he was always watching her and controlling her movements. Feeling suffocated, she concluded that killing him was the only way to be free and reunite with Raj.

She also revealed that her father’s health had prevented her from marrying Raj earlier, and she had treated her marriage with Raja as a temporary compromise.

Evidence Mounts

During the investigation, police discovered that Sonam had purchased a new SIM card just days before the murder and used it only to communicate with Raj and the other accused. She had shared all travel plans, hotel details, and Raja’s daily schedule so that the attackers could follow him without raising suspicion.

In a particularly disturbing detail, police learned that Sonam had observed a religious fast on May 22, the day before the murder, claiming to her mother-in-law that she was observing “Apara Ekadashi” to fulfill her desires. Ironically, that desire turned out to be her husband’s death.

Audio Evidence and Legal Developments

One of the most damning pieces of evidence came in the form of an audio recording between Sonam and Raj, where she is heard telling him that everything would be easier once Raja was dead and that they could finally be together forever. This recording is expected to play a key role in court proceedings.

Raj also confessed that he offered his friends financial incentives to join the plot because he knew Sonam couldn’t carry it out alone. The police confirmed that Sonam gave ₹15,000 in cash from Raja’s wallet to the killers as partial payment. The rest was never paid, as Sonam reportedly panicked after the crime.