Meghalaya honeymoon murder: Latest updates on probe

Shillong: Sonam Raghuvanshi, accused of plotting the murder of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, allegedly paid ₹20 lakh to contract killers after the act, according to a senior officer from Meghalaya Police.

Police revealed that she initially handed ₹15,000 in cash to the assailants, money allegedly taken directly from her husband's wallet at the time of the crime. 

Arrest and transfer to Shillong

Sonam was arrested on Tuesday after surrendering to police in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. She was promptly transferred to Shillong the same night.

One police officer from Meghalaya involved in the transfer remarked that Sonam remained largely silent during the journey. “She did not speak much during most of the journey,” the officer stated.

Alleged boyfriend and killers in custody

Her surrender followed the arrest of Raj Kushwaha, believed to be her boyfriend, and three men from Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, who are suspected of being the hired killers.

A senior police officer from Indore, who is working jointly with Meghalaya Police on the case, stated that Raj Kushwaha claimed he had withdrawn support for the murder plan at the last moment and decided not to travel to Meghalaya.

According to him, he even advised the other three not to go. However, they allegedly proceeded with the trip after Sonam booked the travel tickets.

The officer added, “Even at the last moment, the three refused to kill, but Sonam insisted and said she would give ₹15 lakh for that. Police are verifying these claims.”

Reconstruction of the crime scene planned

According to Meghalaya Police, the suspects have alleged that Sonam pretended to be exhaustion just before reaching the murder site. She reportedly positioned the assailants behind her husband and allegedly gave the instruction to kill once they reached a secluded spot.

The police now plan to take Sonam and the three alleged killers back to the location where the murder occurred to reconstruct the crime.

Murder timeline

Police suspect that Sonam, along with her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha, is behind Raja's murder. The couple had married on 11 May and had travelled to Meghalaya on 21 May. They were reported missing on 23 May, the very day police now believe the murder took place.

Raja Raghuvanshi’s body was eventually found on 2 June in a gorge near a waterfall in Sohra, in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya.