A chilling twist unfolded in Meghalaya’s scenic hills when what appeared to be a romantic honeymoon turned into a premeditated murder, with police revealing that Indore tourist Raja Raghuvanshi was allegedly killed by assailants hired by his own wife. Meghalaya DGP I Nongrang confirmed on Monday that Sonam Raghuvanshi, the wife, surrendered at a police station in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur, days after the victim’s body was discovered in a gorge near Weisawdong Falls on June 2.
The couple had gone missing on May 23 while visiting the Sohra region. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed, and following overnight raids, three accused were apprehended—one from UP and two from Indore. The arrested men reportedly confessed that Sonam had orchestrated the murder. Authorities say the operation is still ongoing to nab more individuals involved.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma praised the police for swiftly cracking the case that stunned the nation. “Within 7 days a major breakthrough has been achieved in the Raja murder case,” he posted on X, commending the arrest of the accused and Sonam’s surrender.
PTI had earlier reported that local guide Albert Pde saw the couple accompanied by three unfamiliar men on May 23 around 10 a.m., ascending over 3,000 steps from Nongriat to Mawlakhiat. He remembered them from the day before when they declined his guiding services in favor of another local.
Suspicion deepened after Raja’s body was recovered without his gold ring and chain. A bloodstained machete was later found near the site, and a raincoat resembling one worn by the couple was recovered from Mawkma village. These discoveries, along with the abandoned scooter found on May 24, painted a grim picture of a meticulously planned murder.
Sonam’s father, Devi Singh Raghuvanshi, however, alleged negligence on the part of Meghalaya Police and demanded a CBI probe, insisting that his daughter was abducted and still held captive. Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav echoed this concern and formally requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah for a CBI inquiry.
The couple had married on May 11 and left for Meghalaya on May 20. They reached Mawlakhiat on May 22, but by the next day, Raja had vanished, and now, authorities claim, the woman meant to be his life partner is behind his death.
