A dark tale of betrayal, pretense, and murder – Inside the Shocking Murder of Raja Raghuvanshi

A chilling murder case has surfaced in Meghalaya, wherein the newlywed Raja Raghuvanshi was brutally murdered. What started as a honeymoon took a turn into an intricately planned crime, allegedly abetted by his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, and her clandestine lover, Raj Kushwaha.

Raja and Sonam wedded on May 11 in Indore. They had barely gone days later when they flew to Shillong for their honeymoon. Investigators now, however, assert that Sonam, 24, was in a relationship with Raj, 21, a worker at her family business, and together they conspired to kill Raja. Police believe a ₹20 lakh contract was paid to three men who were to eliminate Raja.

The couple, according to the police, had come to Shillong on May 21 and resided at Balaji Guest House. On May 22, they hired a scooter and traveled to Cherrapunji. On May 23, they went trekking, and were accompanied by the three accused persons – Akash, Anand, and Vikash – who had come from Indore via different modes of transport so that no one suspects anything.

They veered off the trekking roads and followed an isolated path in Mawlingkhiyiat. Later, a local guide was seen speaking Hindi and declining help, according to report. When the group was out of sight, Sonam reportedly fell behind and yelled “kill him.” This led the perpetrators to attack Raja with a khukri (curved knife), aiming at his head and body. Sonam is said to have assisted in dragging and pushing his body into a gorge.

Murder weapon and a number of blood-soaked clothes were picked up. Forensic reports established that the blood belonged to Raja. Sonam’s raincoat and the accused’s clothes also showed traces of blood. CCTV records from 42 places, location of mobile phones, travel tickets, rental contracts, and hotel records have traced the movements of the suspects. Call records also show incessant interaction between Sonam and Raj on the date of murder.

Even with these advancements, police still could not locate Sonam’s cell phone, which could hold key evidence like call records or messages. The investigators are also following the money transactions to establish the payment of ₹20 lakh for the murder.

Post-crime, Sonam also went to Guwahati and then purportedly boarded a train to Indore. She afterwards turned herself in at Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, on June 8. The three paid assailants had been previously arrested from Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. They are currently being held in police custody at Shillong for further questioning.

The case, which was solved by SP Vivek Syiem and his colleagues, has left the nation stunned. It’s a sinister story of deceit, camouflage, and killing – done in the name of love and festivities.