Chilling Details: How Sonam Raghuvanshi and Lover Executed Husband’s Honeymoon Murder

Shillong, September 7, 2025 — In a shocking revelation, the Meghalaya Police have filed a comprehensive 790-page chargesheet in the murder case of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, who was found dead during his honeymoon trip to Sohra in May. The chargesheet, submitted to the Sohra court, names five principal accused and outlines a meticulously planned conspiracy that culminated in Raja's brutal killing.

The Plot Unfolds

According to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), Raja's wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, continued her extramarital relationship with Raj Kushwaha even after marrying Raja on May 11. Within days of the wedding, Sonam and Raj began plotting to eliminate Raja under the guise of a honeymoon trip. On May 20, the couple traveled to Shillong and then to Sohra, where the plan was set into motion.

The chargesheet reveals that Sonam and Raj made three unsuccessful attempts to carry out the killing before finally succeeding. On May 23, just twelve days after the wedding, the assailants attacked Raja with machetes near Wei Sawdong Falls in Sohra, while Sonam was present at the scene. Raja's body was later dumped into a gorge, where it was recovered on June 2.

The Assailants

Raj Kushwaha allegedly arranged for three hired assailants — Vishal Singh Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi — to execute the murder. The SIT has charged them under Sections 103(1), 238(a), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Additionally, three other co-accused — property dealer Silome James, flat owner Lokendra Tomar, and security guard Balbir Ahirwar — were arrested for allegedly destroying and concealing evidence. All three are currently out on bail.

Timeline of Events

• May 11: Raja marries Sonam in Indore.

• May 20: The couple arrives in Shillong for their honeymoon and travels to Sohra.

• May 23: Raja is attacked and killed near Wei Sawdong Falls.

• May 26: The couple is reported missing; a large-scale search operation begins.

• June 2: Raja's mutilated body is recovered from a gorge at Arliang Riat Kunongrim, Sohra.

• June 8–11: SIT arrests Sonam, Raj Kushwaha, and the three alleged assailants in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

• June 22–25: James, Tomar, and Ahirwar are arrested in Madhya Pradesh for evidence destruction.

Family's Demand for Justice

Raja's brother, Vipin Raghuvanshi, has welcomed the filing of the chargesheet but has demanded the death penalty for all accused. He stated, “We have not received the chargesheet yet. I will visit Meghalaya on Monday and then will read the chargesheet. Sonam and all the others accused should face severe punishment. I demand that Sonam, Raj Kushwaha, and all the others accused get a death sentence.”

The case has garnered nationwide attention due to its shocking nature and the involvement of close family members in the heinous crime. The trial is expected to begin once the court takes cognizance of the chargesheet and the supplementary filings.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the case serves as a grim reminder of the potential for betrayal within intimate relationships and the extreme measures some may take to conceal their actions.