Honeymoon Horror: How Sonam and Her Accomplices Fled After Meghalaya Murder

Same Murder, Different Routes: How Sonam and Her Accomplices Fled After Orchestrating Meghalaya Killing.

A murder that initially sparked fears of a possible kidnapping has now unraveled into a shocking tale of betrayal and calculated conspiracy. Sonam Raghuvanshi, who had married just days earlier, is now accused of masterminding her husband’s murder during their honeymoon in Meghalaya.

A Honeymoon Turned Deadly
Sonam Raghuvanshi, 24, tied the knot with Raja Raghuvanshi, 29, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on May 11. For their honeymoon, the couple traveled to Meghalaya, arriving in Shillong on May 22. The following day, they headed to Sohra—better known as Cherrapunji—in the East Khasi Hills district, a region famed for its waterfalls and misty trails.

What Raja didn’t know was that Sonam was allegedly romantically involved with 21-year-old Raj Kushwaha, an employee of her family business. Police say the two plotted his murder, and Kushwaha recruited three friends for the task, lured by a promised payment of ₹20 lakh.

On May 23, while trekking to the scenic Wei Sawdong waterfall in the remote Mawlakhiat area, Sonam is said to have led Raja into a secluded spot where the killers lay in wait. Once there, she allegedly gave the signal for the attack. After Raja was killed, Sonam reportedly helped push his body into a nearby gorge.

A Coordinated Escape
Following the murder, Sonam took a taxi from the remote location back to Shillong and then traveled to Guwahati by another cab. From there, she boarded a train, allegedly headed for Indore—a claim still under police scrutiny.

Meanwhile, the three assailants made their way independently to Guwahati and also boarded a train bound for Indore. According to police, the group’s coordinated but separate movement points to a carefully orchestrated escape plan laid out before the crime.

Investigation and Arrests
Raja’s body was discovered on June 2. Within a week, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Meghalaya Police had gathered enough evidence to arrest Sonam. While her phone has not yet been recovered, investigators confirmed that she was in communication with Kushwaha on the day of the murder. Kushwaha, in turn, remained in touch with the hired killers.

East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem noted that the planning appeared deliberate, although it remains unclear whether Sonam had previously visited Meghalaya or selected the murder site based solely on online searches for isolated locations. “She claims she had never been to Shillong before. Perhaps it was a spontaneous decision, but the intent to kill was clearly there,” he said.

Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
Sonam is expected to reach Shillong by late Tuesday night, while Kushwaha and the three alleged killers are due to arrive on Wednesday morning. All five will be presented in court, where police will seek custody to continue the investigation.

A reconstruction of the crime is also being planned to better understand the sequence of events. SP Syiem shared further details, stating, “They walked up together to the scenic spot after leaving their scooters below. According to the assailants, it was Sonam who guided them to Wei Sawdong waterfall—where the murder was carried out.”