The murder of Raja Raghuvanshi during his honeymoon in Meghalaya has sent shockwaves across the country, as investigators uncovered a calculated plot allegedly masterminded by his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, with the help of her lover, Raj Kushwaha. Police sources indicate that Sonam and Raj began conspiring to kill Raja just three days after Sonam’s marriage to him in Indore on May 11, 2025. Sonam’s motivation is believed to stem from her ongoing affair with Raj Kushwaha. Investigators revealed chat messages in which Sonam confided to Raj about her discomfort with Raja’s attempts at intimacy, admitting she did not want her husband to get close to her.
She further disclosed that she had emotionally withdrawn from Raja even before their wedding, a sentiment that reportedly led her to join Raj in plotting Raja’s murder.
The crime was executed with careful planning. Sonam and Raja traveled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon on May 20, having altered their original travel plans due to safety concerns. On May 23, while visiting tourist spots in the East Khasi Hills, Sonam allegedly enticed Raja to a secluded location, where three contract killers—arranged by Raj—attacked and murdered him with a machete brought from outside the state.
The assailants then disposed of Raja’s body in a gorge near Weisawdong Falls, where it was discovered on June 2. Following the murder, Sonam went missing, but was later found at a roadside eatery in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, where she surrendered to authorities. Investigations revealed that Sonam had destroyed her phone to eliminate evidence and had promised Raj she would marry him after becoming a widow, assuring him of her father’s approval. Both Sonam and Raj, along with their accomplices, have been arrested and are currently in police custody as the investigation continues. This case is particularly notable for its methodical planning, involvement of hired killers, and the ruthless execution of the crime during what was meant to be a celebratory honeymoon.