 "Missing wife, murdered husband & big twist: Why did Sonam Raghuvanshi plan the killing during Meghalaya honeymoon?")
A shocking twist emerged on Monday in the case of a couple from Indore who had gone missing during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, and days after the husband’s body was found.
Raja Raghuvanshi’s ‘missing’ wife, Sonam, has surrendered and been arrested in connection with the alleged murder. Police said she allegedly orchestrated the killing by hiring contract killers.
The unexpected turn of events may seem like something out of a thriller film, but several questions in the case remain unanswered.
Adding to the confusion, Sonam’s father has denied the contract killing charges and claimed that his daughter is innocent. Meanwhile, Raja’s brother, Vipin Raghuvanshi, claimed that Sonam did not surrender, but that the family informed the police after receiving an alleged call from her.
With so many developments, it may feel like a lot to take in, so we have broken everything down in this explainer.
We will look at how Sonam’s family’s version clashes with the police account in Raja Raghuvanshi’s murder, how police tracked her across states before her surrender, the alleged motive, what happens next in court, and a timeline from their wedding to the arrest.
Find all the necessary information below:
How Sonam planned husband’s murder and then surrendered to police
Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife went missing on May 23 while they were on their honeymoon in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills. Days later, police recovered his body, while Sonam was thought to be untraceable.
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View AllShe has now been taken into custody in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur after turning herself in.
According to police, Sonam arranged for her husband’s killing by hiring contract killers.
Meghalaya’s Director General of Police, Idashisha Nongrang, said three more people were caught during overnight operations. One was found in Uttar Pradesh, while the other two were picked up from Indore. Police said the men confessed to being paid by Sonam to carry out the murder.
They added that one suspect is still absconding and has not yet been located.
Late last night, Sonam reportedly called her brother, Govind, from a roadside eatery (dhaba), and told him she was in Uttar Pradesh.
She was later found at the eatery in Ghazipur and taken into custody. After this, she was taken to a hospital for a routine medical examination.
A worker at the ‘dhaba’ in Ghazipur confirmed that Sonam arrived there close to 1 am.
In a statement, the Meghalaya Police said that Sonam “voluntarily surrendered at Nandganj Police Station in Ghazipur”.
Meanwhile, Vipin Raghuvanshi, brother of Raja Raghuvanshi, has claimed that Sonam did not surrender, contrary to other claims.
#WATCH | Indore, MP: On Sonam Raghuvanshi found near Ghazipur, UP, Vipin Raghuvanshi, brother of Raja Raghuvanshi, says, "I spoke to Govind (Sonam's brother) around 2 AM. He informed me that Sonam was found in Uttar Pradesh. After we contacted UP Police, Sonam was taken by the… https://t.co/AGDc6ZeozK pic.twitter.com/LMtgIJxvn0
— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2025
He said, “I spoke to Govind (Sonam’s brother) around 2 AM. He informed me that Sonam was found in Uttar Pradesh. After we contacted UP Police, Sonam was taken by the police. She did not surrender. We will not agree that Sonam is the accused until and unless she confesses to this.”
Meghalaya honeymoon murder case: Why did Sonam kill her husband Raja Raghuvanshi?
Sources told CNN-News18 that Raj Kushwaha, who is said to have been in a relationship with Sonam Raghuvanshi, is believed to be the ‘mastermind’ behind Raja Raghuvanshi’s murder.
Vicky Thakur, Akash, and Anand have been named as the three men who carried out the murder.
Sources added that the possible reason for the killing was Sonam’s relationship with Raj Kushwaha, whom she had known before she got married.
They also said Sonam may have booked the honeymoon trip as part of the plan to have her husband killed.
Police suspect the planning behind the murder was not limited to Meghalaya, and are now looking into the couple’s links in other states.
Innocent or mastermind? The war of words between Sonam’s family and the police
Meghalaya’s police chief, I Nongrang, said Raja Raghuvanshi was allegedly murdered by men his wife had hired during their honeymoon.
“The arrested men have revealed that the wife had hired them to kill Raghuvanshi,” he said, as the case took a dramatic turn.
Earlier, a local guide told the police that the couple was last seen along with three unknown men on the day they went missing, a detail that shifted the focus of the investigation.
VIDEO | Indore Couple Case: Senior BJP legislator and Meghalaya Cabinet Minister AL Hek says, “Their whole family is blaming the police of Meghalaya. They’re blaming the government of Meghalaya, and particularly, it’s very shameful to blame the people of Meghalaya... They have… pic.twitter.com/VbwfpgSiJD
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 9, 2025
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma praised the police for solving the case that had shocked the state as well as the nation.
“Within 7 days, a major breakthrough has been achieved by the #meghalayapolice in the Raja murder case… 3 assailants who are from Madhya Pradesh have been arrested, female has surrendered and operation still on to catch 1 more assailant… well done," he wrote on X.
However, Sonam’s father, Devi Singh, has rejected all accusations against his daughter and called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry.
“My daughter reached the roadside eatery, and she was crying and called from there. It was from the dhaba that the police picked her up. I haven’t spoken to my daughter yet,” he said.
#WATCH | Indore missing couple case | Sonam Raghuvanshi's father, Devi Singh, says, "...My daughter is innocent. I have trust in my daughter. She cannot do this (kill her husband)... They got married with the consent of both families. The state (Meghalaya) Government has been… https://t.co/Gz7hbZUdXk pic.twitter.com/gCvJfwcQAU
— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2025
“The police are lying," he alleged, adding, “Why would my daughter do something like this? If she intended to do something like this, why would she go out travelling?"
He has requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to step in and support a CBI probe, insisting, “The Meghalaya Police have cooked up this story midway. My daughter is innocent.”
#WATCH | Indore missing couple case | Sonam Raghuvanshi's father, Devi Singh, says, "...Meghalaya CM is lying regarding this case. A CBI inquiry should be done on him as well. I am sure that the CM is also lying. Union Home Minister Amit Shah should send the CBI there as soon as… pic.twitter.com/PPgn9QwefV
— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2025
Meanwhile, Sonam’s mother, Sangeeta, said she was relieved that her daughter had been found. But she also said the family wanted to know who was really behind Raja’s murder.
“Now we want to know who was behind Raja’s murder. There’s sorrow even though she has returned, we lost Raja," she said.
Meghalaya honeymoon murder case: What will happen next in court?
Police said Sonam Raghuvanshi ‘surrendered under pressure’ in connection with her husband’s murder during their honeymoon in Meghalaya.
Speaking to IANS, Meghalaya Inspector General of Police (Law and Order), Dalton P Marak, said one suspect is still missing and Sonam will now face legal proceedings.
“Sonam will be brought back to Meghalaya for court proceedings,” he said.
The case is being investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which carried out simultaneous raids in several states to find and arrest the suspects.
All about Raja & Sonam Raghuvanshi: A complete timeline from wedding to surrender
The couple went missing on May 23 after leaving a homestay in Shillong, which led to a large search effort. Authorities investigated Raja’s murder and Sonam’s disappearance, leaving many questions still unanswered.
Raja Raghuvanshi, a resident of Indore, disappeared on May 23 during his honeymoon in Meghalaya with his wife Sonam.
On June 2, his partly decomposed body was found in a gorge near Weisawdong Falls, showing signs of murder. Raja’s family has asked for a CBI probe into his disappearance and killing.
To help you understand the case clearly, here is a timeline of key events:
May 20, Guwahati: The couple began their honeymoon, with Guwahati as their first stop.
May 22 morning, Shillong: They rented a scooter on Keating Road, returned to their guest house, checked out without having breakfast, and told the manager they planned to return by May 25 or would call if they needed a room.
May 23 morning, Mawlakhiat, East Khasi Hills: The couple left Shipara Homestay and returned to Mawlakhiat village without their guide. They then left Mawlakhiat and later disappeared near the Sohra (Cherrapunji) area. Local villagers helped with the search.
June 2, Weisawdong Falls: Raja’s semi-decomposed body was found at the bottom of a gorge near the Weisawdong Falls parking spot at Riat Arliang. He was identified by a “Raja” tattoo on his right hand. A machete, thought to be the murder weapon, was found nearby.
June 4, Sohra: Police found a blood-stained raincoat near Mawkma Road, Sohra, possibly belonging to the missing man. It was sent for forensic tests.
June 9, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh: Sonam was located and arrested after she ‘surrendered’. Meghalaya DGP I Nongrang said Raja was allegedly killed by men hired by his wife during their honeymoon in Meghalaya.
What happens now?
So far, three suspected attackers hired from Madhya Pradesh have been arrested. One more suspect is still at large.
The case has taken a disturbing turn as investigators try to understand how a honeymoon turned into a planned murder.
Further questioning of the suspects, including Sonam, is expected to reveal more about the motive and how the murder was planned.
With inputs from agencies
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