Sonam Rushed to Indore After Raja’s Murder, Stayed With Lover Raj In Rented House: Sources

Shillong:  New details have emerged in the murder case of Indore resident Raja Raghuvanshi, whose brutal murder was allegedly planned by his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, with the help of her lover Raj Kushwaha.

Earlier, it was believed that Sonam had been kidnapped. However, the Meghalaya Police revealed a different story after arresting her on the Varanasi-Ghazipur highway on June 8.

How the Murder Was Planned

As per sources, Police said Sonam and Raj Kushwaha had planned the murder just days after her wedding to Raja on May 11. On May 20, Raja and Sonam left for their honeymoon in Meghalaya. By May 23, they were staying in a homestay in Nongriat village, from where they were last seen checking out. It was on that day that Raja was murdered.

His body was found on June 2, in a deep gorge near the homestay.

Sonam's Escape Route: Shillong to Indore

After the murder, Sonam left Shillong by train, travelling via Siliguri and reaching Indore on May 25. There, she met Raj Kushwaha, who is suspected of arranging the killers. The two allegedly spent a night together in a rented house.

The next day, a car and driver were arranged to drop Sonam somewhere in Uttar Pradesh. She kept moving across the state for the next two weeks, avoiding police detection.

Arrested in Ghazipur, Sent Back to Meghalaya

On June 8, Sonam was finally picked up from the Varanasi-Ghazipur highway. Police said she had surrendered in a distressed condition, and was also suffering from a fever. A Meghalaya Police team took her into custody in Patna, and she is now being taken back to Shillong for further questioning.

The investigation is currently focused on confirming her exact role in planning and executing the murder.

Four Accused Identified So Far

Police have identified four people accused in the case:

Akash Rajput (19) – Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh
Vishal Singh Chauhan (22) – Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Raj Singh Kushwaha (21) – Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Anand Kurmi (23) – Sagar, Madhya Pradesh

The Indore Crime Branch and Shillong Police jointly searched the homes of the accused. From the house of Vishal Singh Chauhan, police recovered the clothes he wore during the murder. According to ACP Poonamchand Yadav, Vishal has admitted to being involved. Police are still searching for his mobile phone, which may contain more evidence.

READ MORE: Love, Betrayal, and a Shocking Arrest: Timeline of Tragic Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder Case | Republic World

How the Case Unfolded

According to Vivek Syiem, SP of East Khasi Hills, the first arrest was of Akash Rajputfrom Lalitpur. Later, police arrested Vishal Singh Chauhan and Raj Kushwaha from Indore. On the same day Sonam was arrested, police also nabbed Anand Kurmi from Sagar district. One more suspect has been detained at Nandgarh Police Station.

Initially, police were treating the case as a missing person complaint. But after the body was discovered on June 2, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed. Within just seven days, key arrests were made, and police began piecing together the full conspiracy.

SP Syiem said, “This murder was clearly planned. Sonam and Raj Kushwaha were at the centre of it. All the accused had gone underground, but when our operations began, Sonam suddenly surfaced and we arrested her.”