A Honeymoon Turned Nightmare
In
the misty hills of Meghalaya, a dream honeymoon became a chilling crime scene.
On May 23, 2025, Raja Raghuvanshi, a 29-year-old businessman from Indore, was
brutally murdered during a romantic getaway with his new bride, Sonam
Raghuvanshi. What began as a love story ended in betrayal, blood, and a manhunt
that has gripped India. Sonam, now the prime accused, stands at the centre of a
scandal involving a secret lover, a machete attack, and a web of lies that’s unravelling
daily.
The
Crime That Shocked the Nation
Raja’s
mutilated body was found on June 2 in a gorge near Wei Sawdong Falls in Sohra,
Meghalaya. Police say he was hacked to death with a traditional machete, or
“dao,” by three men—Vishal Singh Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand
Kurmi—allegedly at Sonam’s command. Her rumoured boyfriend, Raj Kushwaha, is
also in custody, accused of orchestrating the plot. Sonam reportedly gave the
signal to strike, then fled as her husband bled out.
The
Meghalaya Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) recreated the chilling
scene on June 17, 2025, with Sonam and the killers walking investigators
through the murder. A second machete was recovered, bolstering the case. “We
have a watertight case,” an SIT officer told Hindustan Times, citing
blood-stained clothes, Sonam’s raincoat with traces of Raja’s blood, and
damning CCTV footage.
Sonam’s
Secret Life
Sonam’s
actions post-murder paint a picture of cold calculation. After the killing, she
fled to a rented flat in Indore’s Dewas Naka, arranged by Vishal Chauhan for ₹17,000
a month. From May 25 to June 7, she hid there, allegedly destroying evidence—smashing phones and
dumping SIM cards. On June 8, she surrendered at a dhaba in Ghazipur, Uttar
Pradesh, but not before leaving a trail of clues.
The
SIT’s June 18 visit to the Indore hideout yielded little—only clothes and
utensils remained. But a bombshell emerged: call records showing 234 calls
between Sonam and a mysterious “Sanjay Verma” from March to April 2025. The
number went offline hours after Sonam’s surrender, sparking speculation. Is
Sanjay Verma an alias for Raj Kushwaha, her alleged lover? Or a new player in
this deadly game? Police are scrambling to find out.
A
Love Triangle or Something More?
The
motive seems rooted in Sonam’s affair with Raj Kushwaha, a 20-year-old from
Uttar Pradesh. The two reportedly blamed each other for masterminding the
murder, but the SIT is digging deeper. On June 18, they grilled Sonam’s
family—her father, mother, and brother Govind—in their Indore home for three
hours, searching her bedroom for clues. Govind, cooperative yet devastated,
demanded a narco-analysis test to clear his family’s name. “She took only a
pendant, earrings, and ₹10,000–₹20,000,” he said, denying Sonam
looted valuables.
Raja’s
family, heartbroken, has cut Sonam from their lives, tearing her image from
wedding photos. They suspect money may have played a role, as Sonam fled with
jewelry and cash. The SIT’s June 19 interrogations of both families suggest
financial motives are under scrutiny, alongside the love triangle.
The
Evidence Mounts
Police
have built a formidable case. Beyond the machetes and blood-stained clothes,
they have Sonam’s live location data, shared with the killers to track Raja.
CCTV footage from hotels and call records tie the accused together. Hotel
owners’ statements confirm Sonam’s erratic behaviour before the murder. “She
was calm, too calm,” one owner told Times of India.
Yet,
questions linger. Was Sanjay Verma a mastermind or a red herring? Why did Sonam
surrender? And what drove a newlywed to such a heinous act? The SIT’s ongoing
probe in Indore, as of June 19, 2025, aims to answer these, with 12 pointed
questions for Sonam’s family.
A
Nation Watches
The
Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder has sparked a firestorm on social media. On social
media, users call it “a dangerous, mysterious crime,” with some demanding
Sonam’s execution. Others question her family’s role, though Govind’s
cooperation has softened some criticism. Media outlets like NDTV and News18
fuel the frenzy, though inconsistencies—such as conflicting call counts (119
vs. 234) or Sanjay Verma’s identity—highlight the need for caution.
As
the SIT pieces together this puzzle, India awaits justice for Raja Raghuvanshi.
Was Sonam a scorned lover, a cunning plotter, or both? Only time—and the
truth—will tell.
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