The gruesome murder of Indore's businessman Raja Raghuvanshi in Meghalaya has sent shockwaves across the nation. Uma Raghuvanshi, the victim's mother, has made a heart-wrenching statement in this ghastly murder case, claiming it was her son’s wife, Sonam, who orchestrated their honeymoon trip to Meghalaya. The trip was meticulously pre-planned with booked tickets, yet puzzlingly, no return tickets were arranged. She shared, 'My son went to Meghalaya with Sonam upon her insistence. He wasn’t even in the mood for a getaway, but Sonam had already booked the tickets. I told him that since there was a ticket, he should go along with his wife.'
Uma Raghuvanshi recounted how Sonam's behavior was quite normal with the family after marriage, never giving them a reason to suspect anything. The honeymoon was Sonam's idea, yet there were no preparations for their return. 'My son had mentioned that Sonam had only booked the ticket to go, not to return. Still, they thought they would return in 6-7 days.' When Uma saw a photo of Sonam after the incident, she was stunned - not a scratch was visible on her body. She questioned why there were no marks of a struggle if Sonam had indeed been abducted.
Uma expressed a burning question for Sonam, 'Where, why, and in what condition did you leave my son?' She also revealed that post-engagement, Sonam never spent alone time with Raja. When the family questioned this, Sonam would say she was overwhelmed with work, even suggesting Raja could call her if she didn't first. Sonam's mother once mentioned their cultural norm that discouraged pre-marital meetings, which was Sonam's justification.
The wedding, held with both families' blessings, made Raja genuinely happy. He embraced Sonam wholeheartedly as his wife. Through tears, Uma lamented, 'I wish now the marriage had never happened. At least he would have been alive. If Sonam orchestrated my son’s death, she should face the harshest penalty. Every night I tell my son’s photo, those who did this must face severe justice.' Uma also clarified that her family had no knowledge about the main accused Raj Kushwaha.
Source: aajtak
Simultaneously, Sonam's father declared her innocent, demanding a full CBI investigation into the case. Just 11 days post-wedding, on May 20, Raja and Sonam traveled to Meghalaya. Their disappearance followed on May 23 in Sohra (Cherrapunji), until Raja’s body was discovered on June 2 in a ravine. Meghalaya police claim Sonam masterminded the murder through hired killers. DGP I Nongrang stated that Sonam surrendered at Nandganj police station in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur district, with three others apprehended from Indore and Lalitpur, and a fifth suspect caught in Sagar.
According to police insiders, Sonam and her lover, Raj Kushwaha, conspired for the murder. They were deeply involved, with Raj coordinating the plan entirely by phone. While Sonam was already in Shillong, she met with hired killers, leading the team to Cherrapunji. There, Sonam reportedly led Raja to a secluded path where the waiting contract killers took his life. Subsequently, Sonam, Akash, Vishal, and Anand returned to Shillong.
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Source: aajtak
From there, they headed straight to Guwahati, staying a day before dispersing in different directions. But Sonam was already under police suspicion. Early probes hinted at her survival and significant involvement in the assassination plot. Technical surveillance and call detail scrutiny presented her persistent contact with Raj Kushwaha, revealing their longstanding affair. This revelation swiftly redirected the investigation, prompting raids across states.
First, a police squad swooped into Lalitpur, capturing Akash Rajput. Subsequently, Raj Kushwaha and Vishal were detained in Indore. Late Sunday night, Sonam surrendered in Ghazipur, while the fifth suspect Anand was caught in Sagar. Legal and administrative formalities are underway with regional police to transport all suspects to Shillong, where they will be presented in court, seeking police custody for further inquiry.
