On 11 May 2025, 29-year-old businessman Raja Raghuvanshi from Indore married 24-year-old Sonam Raghuvanshi in an arranged ceremony. The match was fixed through a community marriage booklet known as the Samaj Parichay Pustika. After a few family meetings, the wedding was finalised.
On 20 May 2025, the newlyweds left Indore for their honeymoon in Meghalaya. Two days later, they reached a homestay in Shillong on a rented scooter. CCTV footage showed them carrying a white suitcase. They later spent the night at a homestay in Nongriat.
Early on 23 May, around 5:30 am, the couple checked out and set off for a trek in Cherrapunji. That morning, Sonam called her mother-in-law and spoke about their trekking plans. Around 10 am, a local tour guide reported seeing the couple with three other men on the trail. Later that day, repeated calls from both families went unanswered.
A missing person report was filed on 24 May. On 27 May, the couple’s rented scooter was found abandoned on the Shillong-Sohra road. Search operations continued despite heavy rainfall.
On 2 June, police recovered Raja’s body from a valley near a waterfall parking area in Cherrapunji. His identity was confirmed through a tattoo and smartwatch. A blood-stained machete and a black coat were also recovered nearby. The post-mortem revealed multiple injuries.
Investigators later found that Sonam was in regular contact with Raj Kushwaha during the trip. Four suspects — Vishal Chauhan, Anand Kurmi, Akash Rajput and Raj Kushwaha — were arrested.
On 9 June, Sonam was found at a roadside eatery in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. She claimed she had been drugged, kidnapped and robbed. Meghalaya Police, however, stated that evidence suggested her involvement in the murder.
On 11 June, reports emerged that Sonam had confessed to her role in planning Raja’s murder. The police said the investigation was ongoing and further details would emerge after interrogation.
