Honeymoon murder: Did Sonam's family force her to marry Raja Raghuvanshi?

Did Sonam Raghuvanshi’s family know about her affair with Raj Kushwaha before she married Raja Raghuvanshi?

What first seemed like a case of a honeymooning couple gone missing in Meghalaya took a tragic turn when Raja Raghuvanshi’s half-decomposed body was discovered at the bottom of a gorge near Weisawdong Falls. Soon after, Sonam surrendered to the police in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur.

A video that has now gone viral on social media is believed to show Sonam and Raja during a wedding ritual, where she appears uncomfortable and unwilling.

ALSO READ |  How Sonam, her boyfriend plotted and planned Raja Raghuvanshi’s murder

Now, reports are saying that Sonam had told her family about her relationship with Raj Kushwaha before getting married.

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Did Sonam’s family know about her relationship? What happened when they refused to accept Kushwaha as her partner? What exactly does the viral video reveal?

Let’s get you the answers to these questions and more.

Was Sonam’s family aware of her affair before marriage?

Several reports suggest that Sonam had spoken to her family before the wedding and told them she was in love with Raj Kushwaha and wanted to marry him.

Raja Raghuvanshi’s elder brother, Vipin Raghuvanshi, has made this claim. He said that someone close to Sonam’s family told him her mother insisted she marry within their caste, even though she had feelings for someone else.

Vipin also said that Sonam had warned her mother that she would not take responsibility for anything that might happen after her marriage to Raja.

He stated, “A close acquaintance of Sonam’s family told me that Sonam had confided in her mother that she was in love with someone else. But her family had told her, ‘You can love whoever you want, but your marriage will happen within the community’.”

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According to a News18 report, he added, “Sonam responded to her mother, saying, ‘Fine, I will not be responsible for whatever happens after I get married (to Raja Raghuvanshi)’.”

Police sources also told NDTV that Sonam had warned her family of “consequences” if they forced her to marry Raja.

One of the sources told the media outlet that, according to Vipin, Sonam agreed to go ahead with the wedding but gave a clear warning.

“She said, ‘You will see what I do to that person. You all will have to bear the consequences.’ No one thought she would kill Raja,” the source told NDTV.

After Sonam was arrested, her mother said she did not know about any romantic relationship Sonam might have had before marriage.

She also mentioned that Sonam worked at her father’s company, where Kushwaha was also employed. She added that Kushwaha and other staff members used to call her regarding work matters.

Was Sonam forced into marriage?

A video that has gone viral claims to show Sonam and Raja during a wedding ritual, where she appears visibly upset.

In the clip, a man, believed to be Raja Raghuvanshi, is seen applying vermilion (sindoor) on the forehead of a woman identified by many online as Sonam.

Just take a look at this wedding video of Sonam and Raja Raghuvanshi and you will agree that Sonam was clearly not happy with this marriage.

Raja Raghuvanshi would have been alive if Sonam had said No to the marriage. She had the courage to hire contract killers but didn't had… pic.twitter.com/NbHlQQWzXK

— Incognito (@Incognito_qfs) June 9, 2025

Firstpost could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.

Still, the video drew strong reactions, with several users pointing out the woman’s expressions. Many said she looked unhappy and unwilling during the ceremony.

This video began circulating just hours after Sonam was arrested for allegedly being involved in the killing of her husband while the two were on holiday in Meghalaya.

MBA dreams to murder accused: The story of Sonam Raghuvanshi

Sonam once had ambitions of pursuing an MBA, but today she faces serious charges in connection with her husband’s death, allegedly planned along with Raj Kushwaha.

According to The Indian Express, Sonam’s family did not support her desire to work outside the family setup, which led her to remain involved in the running of their plywood factory.

A senior police officer from Madhya Pradesh told the publication that Sonam had once spoken about studying for an MBA. However, this plan was quietly dropped after her family suggested she should stay within the business.

It was during this period that she met Raj Kushwaha, who used to work in the billing section of her father’s factory and also lived nearby.

How Sonam was arrested in Ghazipur

Sonam was caught at a roadside eatery (dhaba) on the main Varanasi-Ghazipur road.

A worker at the ‘dhaba’ later told reporters that a woman had arrived late on the night of June 8 and appeared upset. She had been crying and asked to use a phone to speak to her family.

The worker confirmed that she had made a call and told someone where she was.

It was later revealed that Sonam had contacted her brother, Govind, and told him she was in Uttar Pradesh.

Police said Sonam had turned herself in, though Raja Raghuvanshi’s family has disagreed with that version.

What happens next?

Sonam and the four others arrested for their alleged role in the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi will be presented in court on Wednesday.

A team from Meghalaya Police, escorting Sonam, arrived in Guwahati around 11 pm and then began their journey to Shillong, which is about two hours away.

Vivek Syiem, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, confirmed the update and said all five accused will be produced before the court on Wednesday.

Sonam was taken into custody after she surrendered at Nandganj Police Station in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh.

The four others arrested in the case have been identified as Raj Kushwaha, 21, who is said to be Sonam’s partner; Akash Rajput, 19, held in Lalitpur; and Vishal Singh Chauhan, 22, along with Anand Kuli, 23, both arrested in Indore.

With inputs from agencies