‘I was abducted’ Sonam claims victimhood in Meghalaya honeymoon murder case

Shillong: The Meghalaya honeymoon murder case took a dramatic turn on Monday after Sonam Raghuvanshi was found near a dhaba on the Varanasi-Ghazipur road in Uttar Pradesh.

Police say she was crying and disoriented. After medical examination, she was shifted to the Sakhi One Stop Centre in Ghazipur.

Uttar Pradesh ADG (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash confirmed that Sonam did not surrender but was found and taken into custody after her brother informed police. Meghalaya police are expected to take her into custody for interrogation soon.

Sonam has reportedly told police that she was abducted and later abandoned near Ghazipur. This contradicts earlier suspicions that she conspired to have her husband murdered with the help of others, allegedly due to her affair with Raj Kushwaha, a co-worker from her family’s mica factory.

Raja’s family has reacted strongly. In Indore, they burned Sonam’s photographs in public. Raja’s brother Vipul claimed that he learned of her location from her brother, Govind, and said Sonam should not be considered guilty unless she confesses. He also revealed that once he heard the name Raj Kushwaha, he suspected a link, as Raj was reportedly close to Sonam.

Arrests so far:

Three suspects—Raj Kushwaha, Vishal Chauhan, and Akash Rajput—have been arrested and are in Indore police custody. They will be handed over to Meghalaya Police for further investigation.

The fourth accused, Anand, was arrested in Basari village near Bina, Madhya Pradesh. He had been hiding at a relative’s home.

The Meghalaya DGP said the case was pre-planned. Raja and Sonam had travelled to Shillong for their honeymoon on May 20. By May 23, contact with the couple was lost. Raja’s body was recovered on June 2, and a murder case was registered.

CCTV footage showed Sonam with two mobile phones and a branded raincoat when last seen with Raja. But when found, she had no belongings, leading to questions about her movements in the interim.

Sonam’s family has denied all allegations. Her father Devi Singh called the charges “100% false” and demanded a CBI inquiry. Meanwhile, Raja’s mother, though emotional, urged for a fair investigation and said Sonam would face consequences if she was found guilty.

A joint operation involving police from Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh led to the breakthrough. Meghalaya Police confirmed Sonam had “voluntarily surrendered” and praised the inter-state cooperation.

Press briefings by Meghalaya Home Minister and SP East Khasi Hills are scheduled for later today. The case continues to unravel with many unanswered questions about Sonam’s true role.