Indore: The story of 26-year-old Raja Raghuvanshi, brutally murdered during his honeymoon in Meghalaya, has shaken the nation’s conscience. A tale of a happy honeymoon turned into a horrific betrayal. Raja’s killing has sparked public outrage, with his grieving family demanding the harshest punishment, including capital punishment for his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi and her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha.

Raja’s mother, Uma Raghuvanshi, shattered by the loss of her son, told IANS, “The reason behind the incident has come to light. Raja deserves justice, and all those responsible should be given the harshest punishment. I have only one request - if possible, they should be hanged.”

She added, "We never suspected her intentions. We were happy for Raja and didn’t think about the past or why she came into our house. No one could have imagined she would go so far as to get him killed. Had we sensed anything, we would never have allowed the marriage."

Raja’s father, Ashok Raghuvanshi, who suffers from a heart condition, wasn’t even allowed a final glimpse of his son’s disfigured body. “My son died in agony. All the culprits should be hanged to set an example, so that no family loses its son to such a crime in future...My son's body was mutilated. My family members didn't allow me to have the last glimpse as they were concerned over my heart ailment,” he said.

A marriage that ended in murder

Raja and Sonam had been married for just 12 days when they set off on a honeymoon to Meghalaya. On May 23, the couple was last seen checking out of a homestay in Nongriat, Cherrapunji. Ten agonising days later, Raja's mutilated body was found in a gorge near the famous Weisawdong Falls.

Investigators found a bloodstained machete, a destroyed mobile screen, a smartwatch and other items from the crime scene, all indicating a violent struggle. According to the autopsy report, Raja had suffered two sharp blows to the head, a clear sign of a planned execution.

Astrology and alleged motives

The crime’s sinister twist came from the allegation that Raja’s murder was orchestrated to eliminate a “Mangal Dosh” in Sonam’s horoscope, an astrological condition believed to cause marital strife.

Ashok Raghuvanshi claimed that Sonam got her husband murdered to remove the 'Mangal Dosh' in her horoscope so that she could later marry her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha, who worked in the furniture sheet business of Sonam's family in Indore.

Dismissing this claim, local astrologer Dheeraj Dixit said "mangal dosh" cannot be removed by the death of one's spouse.

New clues and investigation breakthroughs

A breakthrough came when Shillong Police, along with Indore Crime Branch, conducted a search at the residence of Vishal Singh Chauhan, one of the four accused.

“We have recovered the clothes that he (Vishal) had worn while he was in Shillong on the day of the incident... They have accepted that they have committed the murder... We are searching for his mobile,” confirmed ACP Poonamchand Yadav of the Indore Crime Branch.

Adding to the evidence, a newly surfaced CCTV footage showed Raja and Sonam stepping out of their hotel on May 23. While Raja appeared relaxed, Sonam was seen deeply engrossed in her phone, fueling suspicions that she might have been coordinating the plan in real-time.

Sonam surrenders, denials continue

After evading authorities for nearly two weeks, 24-year-old Sonam surrendered at a police station in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, on June 9. Meanwhile, police had already arrested four suspects: Raj Kushwaha (21), Vishal Singh Chauhan (22), Akash Rajput (19), and Anand Kurmi.

Despite the mounting evidence, families of both Sonam and Raj Kushwaha continue to assert their children’s innocence. Raj’s mother insisted her son had no romantic involvement with Sonam. Sonam’s father, too, accused the Meghalaya Police of “scapegoating” his daughter to cover up what he called a sloppy investigation.

Government responds with action

In response to rising public pressure, the Meghalaya government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to handle the case. Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar confirmed that Sonam would be brought to Shillong for court proceedings.

"The urban affairs department has received numerous requests from many localities for installation of close circuit televisions (CCTVs) to ensure the safety and security of the citizens and to aid the police in investigation of crimes," Dhar told PTI.

He said the state capital currently has over 335 CCTVs under the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC).

According to Dhar, who is also the Urban Affairs Minister, the government plans to extend CCTV coverage to other parts of the state, including Jowai in the eastern Jaintia Hills region and Tura in the western Garo Hills region.

"We are currently assessing the size and layout of these areas to determine the number of CCTV cameras required," he said.