Meghalaya: Shillong Court Grants 8-Day Remand for Sonam Raghuvanshi and Four Others in Raja Raghuvanshi Murder Case
Meghalaya Police Uncover Chilling Details in Honeymoon Murder Plot, Evidence Mounts Against Accused
SHILLONG– A Shillong court today granted an eight-day police remand for Sonam Raghuvanshi and four other accused—Raj Kushwaha, Vishal Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi—in the brutal murder of Raja Raghuvanshi during a honeymoon trip in Meghalaya.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Meghalaya Police presented substantial evidence, including blood-stained clothes, a khukri used as the murder weapon, and CCTV footage from 42 locations, strengthening the case against the accused.
The case, dubbed “Operation Honeymoon,” has shocked the nation with its chilling details. Raja, a newlywed from Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, was killed on May 23, 2025, during a trek near Weisawdong Falls in Sohra, allegedly orchestrated by his wife, Sonam, with her lover, Raj Kushwaha, and three hired killers.
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Police revealed that Sonam paid ₹20 lakh to the killers, with an initial ₹15,000 taken from Raja’s wallet during the crime. Her claim of being a victim of kidnapping was dismissed as a fabricated story, with evidence pointing to a premeditated plot, including a backup plan to push Raja off a cliff.
Recovered items, including a blood-stained shirt and a raincoat, have been sent for forensic analysis, confirming Raja’s blood.
The SIT is still searching for Sonam’s phone, a critical piece of evidence, while digital records and CCTV footage have helped trace the movements of the accused.
After the murder, the hired killers fled to Guwahati and then to Madhya Pradesh, while Sonam surrendered in Ghazipur on June 9 after initially fleeing.
Meghalaya officials, including Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong and Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh, have defended the state’s safety for tourists, emphasizing the police’s swift action. A peace rally in Sohra mourned Raja’s death, with local leaders demanding an apology from the accused’s families for allegedly tarnishing Meghalaya’s image. The investigation continues, with the SIT interrogating the accused to uncover further details in this high-profile case.
