Marriage, Disappearance, Murder: Inside Indore Couple’s Chilling Meghalaya Trip

Last Updated:June 09, 2025, 08:53 IST

Upon thorough search, Raja's body was found in a gorge on June 2, while Sonam surrendered to police on June 9.

The couple, who were on their honeymoon, went missing on 23 May shortly after checking out of a homestay in Nongriat village.

An Indore-based newlywed couple – Raja Raghuvanshi (30) and Sonam Raghuwanshi (27) – who came to rain-soaked hills of Meghalaya for their honeymoon, shockingly disappeared on May 23.

Upon thorough search, Raja’s body was found in a gorge on June 2, while in a major breakthrough, the missing wife was traced and arrested in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur on charges of allegedly murdering her husband.

Here’s the timeline of the incidents:

May 20, Guwahati: The duo embarked on their honeymoon on May 20, where Guwahati was their first stop.

May 21, Shillong: The couple reached Balaji Guest House in Meghalaya’s Shillong and checked in.

May 22 morning, Shillong: They rented a two-wheeler on Keating Road in the morning and returned to Balaji Guest House. They checked out, skipping breakfast, and informed the manager they’d be back by May 25, or would call if they needed a room.

May 22 evening, Mawlakhiat, East Khasi Hills: The couple arrived in Mawlakhiat village on a rented scooter. They trekked over 3,000 steps down the gorge to visit the famous living root bridges in Nongriat village, where they stayed the night, according to police.

May 23, morning: Mawlakhiat, East Khasi Hills: The couple checked out of Shipara Homestay and returned to Mawlakhiat village unaccompanied by their guide. They departed from Mawlakhiat and later they vanished from the Sohra (Cherrapunji) area.

A search began in the surrounding areas with assistance from local villagers. Albert Pde, a local guide at Mawlakhiat, told news agency PTI that he saw the couple with three male tourists while they were climbing from Nongriat to Mawlakhiat around 10 am on May 23.

The guide told the police the couple informed him they would manage by themselves and did not use his service for the return trek.

May 24, Sohrarim: The headman of Sohrarim village in East Khasi Hills has reported to the police the discovery of an abandoned scooty within their village.

May 25, Sohrarim: The police traced the scooty owner, who came to Sohra police station and confirmed that the Raghuvanshi couple had rented the two-wheeler.

June 2, Wei Sawdong Falls: The semi-decomposed body of 30-year-old Raja was discovered at the bottom of the gorge near the Weisawdong Falls parking area at Riat Arliang. He was identified by a distinctive “Raja" tattoo on his right hand.

Recovered along with Raja’s decomposed body were a machete, a white shirt belonging to a woman, a strip of medicine, a part of a mobile phone LCD screen, and a smartwatch.

June 4, Sohra: A raincoat with blood stains — suspected to possibly belong to the missing tourist — was recovered near Mawkma Road, Sohra, and was sent for forensic testing.

“We recovered a wet raincoat. There are certain stains on it, but we cannot confirm if those are blood stains. Only forensic tests will determine that," East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem had said.

June 9, Ghazipur, UP: Sonam was traced and arrested. According to DGP I Nongrang, Raja was allegedly killed by men hired by his wife during their honeymoon in Meghalaya.

Sonam surrendered before the police in Ghazipur, while three other assailants were arrested in overnight raids, the DGP said.

“One person was picked up from UP, and another two accused were apprehended from Indore by the SIT," news agency PTI quoted her as saying.

“Sonam surrendered at the Nandganj police station in UP, and was subsequently arrested," she added. Nongrang said the arrested men have revealed that the wife had hired them to kill Raghuvanshi.

It was also learnt that Sonam Raghuvanshi, late last night, called up her brother, Govind, and informed him that she was in UP.

Murder Case Filed

Police have registered a murder case and are treating the circumstances with suspicion. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is leading the probe. “We are investigating with an open mind, and all possibilities, including honour killing, are being explored," SP Syiem told CNN-News18.

Raja’s body has been sent to NEIGRIHMS, Shillong, for post-mortem examination. As the search for Sonam continues, investigators hope that the recovery of the dao and mobile phone will provide critical leads in unraveling the mystery behind the suspected double homicide.

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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Location :

Meghalaya, India, India

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News india Marriage, Disappearance, Murder: Inside Indore Couple’s Chilling Meghalaya Trip