Meghalaya honeymoon murder mystery: Raja's wife Sonam, 3 others held after 17 days; what we know so far

NEW DELHI: The murder of Indore resident Raja Raghuvanshi during his honeymoon in Meghalaya saw a major breakthrough after police arrested his wife, Sonam, along with three other accused.

According to police, Sonam allegedly orchestrated the killing with the help of hired assailants. The arrests were made following intensive investigations, and the case continues to unfold.Teams from the Meghalaya and Indore police are expected to reach Ghazipur today to continue the investigation and escort her to Meghalaya.Here's a detailed breakdown of what has unfolded so far:Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi, newlyweds from Indore, arrived in Meghalaya for their honeymoon in May.

On May 22, the couple reached Mawlakhiyat village and undertook the steep 3,000-step trek to Nongriat, known for its iconic living root bridges. They spent the night in a homestay and were last seen checking out the next morning.Their rented scooter was later found abandoned on May 24 near a cafe along the Shillong–Sohra road. After days of no contact, Raja was reported missing.Body found in GorgeOn June 4, Raja’s decomposed body was discovered inside a deep gorge near Weisawdong Falls.

His identity was confirmed by a tattoo on his hand—“Raja and a lady”—and a waterproof smartwatch he had borrowed from his brother. Missing items included his wallet, four mobile phones, and gold jewellery.Police recovered a raincoat believed to belong to the couple in nearby Mawkma village and later found one of Raja’s mobile phones.Murder weapon and confirmation of homicideA 'dao' (machete) believed to be the murder weapon was recovered by the East Khasi Hills police.

SP Vivek Syiem confirmed that the machete was newly purchased and used solely for the crime. A case of murder and destruction of evidence was registered, and the police indicated that the probe was being treated as a top priority.The post-mortem report is awaited to determine if Raja was killed before or after falling into the gorge.The twist: Wife hired killersOn June 9, Meghalaya director general of police I Nongrang revealed a chilling development, Raja’s wife, Sonam, had hired the assailants.

She surrendered to police at Nandganj Police Station in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh.Three more suspects, all men, were arrested in overnight raids—two from Indore and one from UP. The accused reportedly confessed to the murder-for-hire plot during interrogation.Investigation and political responsePolice say the operation to apprehend all involved is ongoing, with further arrests likely. Chief minister Conrad K Sangma praised the Meghalaya police for cracking the case and called the breakthrough significant.