In a chilling twist to the Meghalaya honeymoon murder case, police have revealed that the three men accused of killing Indore resident Raja Raghuvanshi did not act for financial gain—but rather as a personal favour to the alleged mastermind, Raj Kushwaha, the lover of Raja’s wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi.
Murder Was Not a Contract Killing, Say Police
According to East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem, the accused—Vishal Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi—were friends and relatives of Raj Kushwaha, and carried out the murder to help him, not for profit.
“It was not a typical contract killing. They did it as a favour to their friend Raj,” Syiem told PTI.
Raj reportedly gave the trio only ₹50,000 for logistical expenses, debunking earlier theories of a paid hit.
Gruesome Details of the Murder Plot
- The conspiracy was hatched in Indore before Raja and Sonam’s wedding on May 11, 2025.
- The couple traveled to Sohra (Cherrapunji), Meghalaya, for their honeymoon.
- On May 23, the three men attacked Raja with a machete near Weisawdong Falls, while Sonam allegedly watched.
- Raja’s body was thrown into a gorge and recovered on June 2.
Sonam’s Disguise and Escape
After the murder, Sonam fled Meghalaya disguised in a burqa, provided by Raj. She traveled across Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, before resurfacing in Ghazipur on June 9, where she surrendered to police.
New Name Emerges: Jitendra Raghuvanshi
Investigators have also uncovered that initial payments to the accused were made via a UPI account in the name of Jitendra Raghuvanshi, Sonam’s cousin and an employee in her family’s business. This has raised questions about possible hawala links, though the family denies any wrongdoing.
Ongoing Investigation
All five accused—Sonam, Raj, and the three alleged hitmen—are in police custody in Meghalaya. Authorities are now probing the depth of the conspiracy, including digital trails and financial transactions.
