Meghalaya murder case: ‘When she called me ...’ — How Sonam’s brother reacted after her phone call

NEW DELHI: The family of Sonam Raghuvanshi — accused of orchestrating her husband’s murder during their honeymoon in Meghalaya — met her after police arrested her at a dhaba on the Varanasi-Ghazipur highway in eastern Uttar Pradesh.Reacting to the arrest, Sonam’s brother Govind said, “When she called me, I got emotional and informed the police. Until I meet her, I cannot say anything. I have been awake for the last 72 hours.”This follows Sonam’s arrest around 3 a.m. on Monday after she called her family to reveal her location at a roadside eatery. Her family alerted Indore Police, who coordinated with Uttar Pradesh authorities. Ghazipur police took her for a medical examination before sending her to a One-Stop Centre.“She will be handed over to Meghalaya Police, who are leading the investigation. UP Police have not interrogated her yet,” said ADG (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash.Meghalaya DGP Idashisha Nongrang confirmed the arrest of three men in overnight raids — one from Uttar Pradesh and two from Indore. All three have confessed to being hired by Sonam to kill her husband Raja.One accused, 21-year-old Akash Rajput, was arrested from Lalitpur district’s Mahrauni area.

Police said he was known to co-accused Vishal Singh and Raj Kushwaha and traveled with them to Shillong. Raj Kushwaha, believed to be Sonam’s lover, and Vishal Singh Chauhan alias Vikki were arrested earlier by Indore Police.All three reportedly worked at a private firm registered in the name of Sonam’s brother, Gaurav Raghuvanshi, with Raj serving as the accountant.Police sources said Sonam has not disclosed her whereabouts during the time she was missing and only claimed to be “unwell.”

Akash, who holds a BBA degree from Indore, is currently being questioned about his role and motives.Meanwhile, Sonam’s father, Devi Singh, defended her, insisting she is innocent and falsely implicated. “My daughter is innocent. We demand a CBI probe to uncover the truth,” he said.The case came to light after the couple, recently married, went missing on May 23 during their honeymoon in Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya.

They were last seen checking out of a homestay in Nongriat. Their rented scooter was later found abandoned near Sohrarim.Ten days later, Raja’s body was found in a deep gorge near Weisawdong Falls in East Khasi Hills. A machete, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered nearby.Sonam had remained untraceable until Monday. Adding to the intrigue, a local tourist guide claimed to have seen the couple with three men on May 23 while they were trekking up from Nongriat. He said he had earlier offered his services to the couple, but they had hired another guide. Police say the probe is still underway, and further arrests are likely.