Meghalaya murder shocker: Sonam and Raj plotted to fake her death by burning another woman’s body

Shillong: The gruesome murder of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi during his honeymoon in Meghalaya has taken a darker turn with police uncovering a sinister plan hatched by his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, and her lover Raj Kushwaha.

According to East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem, the accused not only plotted Raja’s murder but also devised alternative plans to fake Sonam’s death.

One of the plans involved murdering another woman, burning her body, and placing it with Sonam’s scooter to make it appear as if Sonam had died. The objective, police said, was to buy Sonam more time to go underground while faking her disappearance.

The conspirators — Raj Kushwaha, Sonam, and three of Raj’s close associates — allegedly planned the murder in Indore, starting as early as February 2025. The murder was ultimately executed near Weisawdong Falls in Sohra, where the group killed Raja with a machete and threw his body into a gorge. Sonam, who was present during the murder, gave her bloodstained raincoat to one of the killers to help him cover up.

After the murder, Sonam fled Shillong disguised in a burqa, changed transport multiple times across several states, and eventually surfaced in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, where she surrendered on June 9.

Police say this was the fourth attempt to kill Raja. Previous plans at Guwahati’s Kamakhya temple and other Meghalaya locations had failed due to logistical issues. All five accused are currently in custody under police remand.

Investigators are now working to recreate the crime scene and trace the movements of the accused across states. The murder, sparked by a secret love affair and aided by friendship, has stunned both Meghalaya authorities and Raja’s grieving family in Indore.