New Delhi: New revelations have surfaced in the gruesome murder of Indore resident Raja Raghuvanshi, whose decomposed body was recovered from a gorge in Meghalaya on June 2. The investigation has pointed to a meticulously planned contract killing, allegedly orchestrated by his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, and her reported boyfriend, Raj Kushwaha. Several others are suspected to be involved in the conspiracy, which unfolded under the guise of a honeymoon trip to Meghalaya.
Investigators have gathered a significant body of evidence, including a blood-stained shirt belonging to one of the accused, Akash, confirmed to have Raja’s blood through forensic tests. Sonam’s raincoat, also bearing blood traces, is currently under analysis, while the murder weapon—a khukri (curved blade)—has been recovered and is being examined. Additional evidence includes bloodied clothing worn by another accused, Anand, fingerprints on key surfaces including the murder weapon and Raja’s belongings, and a trove of digital evidence such as mobile phones and location data.
CCTV footage from 42 locations has helped authorities track the movements of the accused, while hotel owners have confirmed bookings made under the suspects’ real identities. The police have also obtained rental documents from a scooty vendor, Aadhaar card photocopies submitted at lodges, and a statement from the shopkeeper who sold the khukri. Train and flight tickets match the timeline of the suspects’ travel, and call records confirm ongoing communication between Sonam, Raj Kushwaha, and the three alleged killers—Akash, Anand, and Vikash. Furthermore, mobile location data places all suspects near the murder site in Cherrapunji on May 23.
Despite these developments, key elements of the investigation remain incomplete. Sonam’s mobile phone, potentially containing incriminating messages and call logs, is still missing, as are the phones of other suspects and the clothes worn during the murder. Authorities are also yet to conclusively track the Rs 20 lakh payment allegedly offered for the killing, or fully map the suspects’ escape routes and hideouts.
Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem, who is leading the investigation, has stated that the evidence strongly implicates Sonam and Raj. According to the reconstructed timeline, the three hired killers travelled from Indore to Shillong using multiple modes of transport. On May 23, Sonam and Raja began a trek in Cherrapunji with the accused. They took an isolated trail in Mawlingkhiyiat, avoiding the usual tourist paths. A local guide, Albert Pde, saw them around 10 a.m., noting they declined his help and spoke Hindi.
Once isolated, Sonam allegedly lagged behind and shouted “kill him,” prompting one of the accused, Vicky Thakur, to initiate the assault. Raja was brutally attacked with sharp weapons by all three men, sustaining fatal injuries to his head and torso. His body was dragged and pushed into a gorge, with Sonam reportedly assisting in the disposal.
After the murder, Sonam took a taxi to Shillong, then travelled by road to Guwahati, and reportedly returned to Indore by train. The killers also fled to Guwahati and took separate trains back to Madhya Pradesh. Sonam and Raja had married on May 11 in Indore, but unknown to Raja’s family, she was allegedly in a relationship with 21-year-old Raj Kushwaha, an employee at her family’s business. Police believe Sonam and Raj plotted the murder, offering Rs 20 lakh to the killers. Though Raj wasn’t physically present in Meghalaya, officials say he coordinated the attack remotely.
Initially feared to be missing, Sonam resurfaced in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, on June 8 and surrendered at the Nandganj police station, reportedly under pressure. She has since been taken into custody and is being interrogated by Meghalaya Police. Raj Kushwaha and the three hired killers had already been arrested from various locations in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
Key dates in the case include the couple’s arrival in Shillong on May 21, their travel to Cherrapunji on May 22, and Raja’s alleged murder on May 23. His body was discovered on June 2, followed by the arrest of the accused on June 7, and Sonam’s surrender on June 8. The investigation, while progressing rapidly, continues to uncover deeper layers of what appears to be a cold-blooded, premeditated murder driven by betrayal, deception, and greed.
