How Sonam Raghuvanshi Planned to Kill Husband Raja on Honeymoon: 790-Page Chargesheet Reveals Chilling Details
The brutal murder of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi during his honeymoon in Meghalaya has shocked India, unraveling a chilling tale of betrayal, greed, and meticulously planned violence. A 790-page chargesheet filed by the Meghalaya Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Judicial Magistrate First Class Court in Sohra reveals disturbing details of how Raja’s wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, allegedly conspired with her lover and hired assailants to execute the crime. Below is an in-depth look at the case based on the chargesheet and related reports.
The Background: A Marriage Marred by Deception
Raja Raghuvanshi, 29, and Sonam Raghuvanshi, 25, tied the knot on May 11, 2025, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Unbeknownst to Raja, Sonam was allegedly involved in a long-term affair with Raj Kushwaha, an accountant in her family’s furniture sheet business. According to the chargesheet, Sonam and Kushwaha began plotting Raja’s murder within days of the wedding, using the pretext of a honeymoon trip to carry out their sinister plan.
The couple traveled to Shillong, Meghalaya, on May 20, 2025, and later proceeded to Sohra (Cherrapunji), a popular tourist destination. The idyllic setting of their honeymoon became the backdrop for a gruesome crime that would unravel over the following weeks.
The Conspiracy: A Cold-Blooded Plan
The 790-page chargesheet, supported by forensic evidence, witness testimonies, and CCTV footage, outlines a premeditated conspiracy. Sonam, named as Accused No. 1, and her lover Raj Kushwaha allegedly orchestrated the murder with three hired assailants: Vishal Singh Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi. The group was charged under Sections 103(1) (murder), 238(a) (destruction of evidence), and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Key details of the conspiracy include:
- Three Failed Attempts: The chargesheet reveals that Sonam and Kushwaha made three unsuccessful attempts to kill Raja before succeeding on May 23, 2025. These failed attempts indicate the level of determination and planning involved.
- Staged Robbery: The plan was to stage the murder as a robbery during a trek near Wei Sawdong Falls, a remote location chosen for its isolation to avoid witnesses.
- Hired Killers: Kushwaha allegedly enlisted his childhood friends—Chauhan, Rajput, and Kurmi—for approximately ₹20 lakh to carry out the killing. The assailants purchased a machete online, which was used as the murder weapon.
The Murder: A Brutal Execution
On May 23, 2025, just 12 days after their wedding, the group executed their plan. During a trek near Wei Sawdong Falls, the three hired assailants ambushed Raja in Sonam’s presence. According to the chargesheet:
- Chauhan struck Raja on the head with a machete, causing him to scream and bleed profusely. Sonam allegedly fled the scene during the attack but returned after Raja succumbed to his injuries.
- The assailants continued their attack, hacking Raja with machetes before dumping his body into a deep gorge at Arliang Riat Kunongrim, Umblai, near the falls.
- A second machete and a blood-stained white shirt, believed to have been worn by Akash Rajput, were later recovered from the gorge, along with other crucial evidence like CCTV footage and witness testimonies.
The remote location and dense mist around the gorge made it an ideal spot to conceal the crime, as it hindered visibility and access. A local guide, Albert Pde, provided critical testimony, reporting that he saw Raja, Sonam, and three Hindi-speaking men (likely the assailants) on the morning of May 23, the last time Raja was seen alive.
The Aftermath: Sonam’s Escape and Arrest
After the murder, Sonam allegedly called her mother, switched off both her and Raja’s phones, and fled to Indore. She later sought refuge in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, approximately 1,200 km from the crime scene. On June 8, 2025, she surrendered at Nandganj police station, a day after Kushwaha and the three assailants were arrested in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
During interrogation, Sonam confessed to the crime, detailing how she and Kushwaha planned the murder. Inconsistencies in her statements and suspicious behavior quickly made her the prime suspect. The SIT reconstructed the crime scene in Sohra with the accused present to piece together the sequence of events.
Additional Accused and Evidence
The chargesheet also names three additional co-accused—property dealer Silome James, landlord Lokendra Tomar, and security guard Balbir Ahirwar—who were allegedly involved in destroying and concealing evidence. These individuals, currently on bail, will face a supplementary chargesheet once additional forensic reports are received.
The police recovered substantial material evidence, including:
- The murder weapon (machete).
- Blood-stained clothing.
- CCTV footage capturing the couple and assailants together.
- Phone records showing communication between Sonam and Kushwaha post-murder.
Family and Public Reaction
Raja’s elder brother, Vipin Raghuvanshi, welcomed the chargesheet but demanded the death penalty for Sonam, Kushwaha, and the other accused. He expressed frustration with Sonam’s brother, Govind, who initially claimed to support justice for Raja but allegedly hired a lawyer to defend Sonam. Vipin planned to travel to Shillong to review the chargesheet for further details.
The murder shocked the residents of Sohra, a popular tourist destination, prompting locals and officials to demand public apologies from the victim’s family and media for damaging Meghalaya’s tourism image. The case has drawn national attention for its themes of betrayal and brutality, highlighting the dark side of personal relationships.
The Legal Road Ahead
With the chargesheet filed on September 5, 2025, the case has entered a critical legal phase. The five main accused—Sonam, Kushwaha, Chauhan, Rajput, and Kurmi—are in judicial custody in Shillong, facing charges of murder, destruction of evidence, and criminal conspiracy. A supplementary chargesheet for the three additional co-accused is expected soon. The trial, set to commence in the coming months, will determine the fate of the accused in this high-profile case.
A Grim Reminder
The Raja Raghuvanshi murder case serves as a chilling reminder of how trust can be shattered by greed and betrayal. What began as a romantic honeymoon turned into a horrific crime, meticulously planned and executed in one of India’s most scenic locations. The 790-page chargesheet not only exposes the calculated nature of the conspiracy but also underscores the thorough investigation by the Meghalaya Police in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
As the nation awaits the trial’s outcome, this case continues to captivate and horrify, raising questions about the complexities of human relationships and the lengths to which some will go for personal gain.
