What began as a honeymoon trip to the scenic hills of Meghalaya ended in a chilling murder mystery when Raja Raghuvanshi, a 29-year-old newlywed, was found dead in a remote gorge. The key to unraveling the crime? A mangalsutra and a ring left behind in a suitcase — a small but telling clue that led police to his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi.
Raja and Sonam, who had just been married on May 11 in Indore, arrived in Meghalaya on May 20 to celebrate their honeymoon. Just three days later, on May 23, the couple vanished after checking out of a homestay in Nongriat village, East Khasi Hills.
Ten days later, on June 2, Raja’s body was recovered from a gorge near the popular Weisawdong Falls. The case took a dramatic turn when Sonam surrendered to police in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, on June 9.
According to Meghalaya Police, the first significant lead emerged from the Sohra homestay where the couple had stored their belongings. Inside a suitcase left behind by Sonam, officers discovered her mangalsutra and a ring — jewelry typically worn by a married woman. This unusual abandonment raised red flags.
“A married woman leaving behind such personal and symbolic ornaments made us look at her closely,” said Meghalaya’s Director General of Police, I Nongrang.
Investigators learned that the couple had arrived in Sohra on May 22 without a prior reservation and were unable to get a room. They left their luggage at the property before setting off on foot toward Nongriat village, a popular trekking destination known for its double-decker root bridges.
After spending the night in Nongriat, they checked out early the next day and returned to Sohra, where they retrieved their scooter. From there, they headed toward Weisawdong Falls — the site where Raja was allegedly murdered.
According to the police, Sonam had orchestrated the killing with the help of her boyfriend, Raj Kushwaha, and three contract killers she had reportedly hired. A tour guide later reported seeing the couple accompanied by three Hindi-speaking men during the trek back — a detail that became critical in piecing together the crime.
“All five individuals involved have confessed to their roles. The evidence we’ve gathered leaves no doubt about what happened,” an investigating officer stated.
Sonam, Kushwaha, and the three hired killers have since been taken into custody and are being held for further questioning. A court in Shillong has remanded them to eight days of police custody as the investigation continues.
