Premium

Honeymoon murder: Police say wife sought to stage the killing as robbery gone wrong

The first clue was a call to her mother-in-law in which she spoke about fasting for Raja’s health. Except, a visit to the hotel revealed she had eaten that day

Indore man's murder: Sonam Raghuvanshi, the Indore woman accused of plotting her husband's murder, being brought for medical examination at a hospital in Ghazipur on Monday

Sonam Raghuvanshi, the Indore woman accused of plotting her husband's murder, being brought for medical examination at a hospital in Ghazipur on Monday. (PTI Photo)

Sonam Raghuvanshi allegedly intended to pass off her husband Raja Raghuvanshi’s murder as a robbery gone wrong in Meghalaya and was planning on living as a widow for some time before trying to convince her family to let her marry Raj Kushwaha, the alleged mastermind of the honeymoon murder, investigators have told The Indian Express.

The special investigation team (SIT) probing the murder of Raja, an Indore resident who ran a transport business, first grew suspicious of Sonam when they heard her audio call with her mother-in-law, informing her about a fast that she undertook for her husband’s health.

When the SIT tracked down the owner of the hotel where the couple stayed, they found this was a lie and that she had eaten there. This revelation raised suspicions, and when the Meghalaya police decided to mount technical surveillance on Sonam, they found that she was in constant touch with Kushwaha, police said.

Also Read | Sonam’s story: From MBA dreams to sanskari bahu to murder accused

Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills, Vivek Syiem told The Indian Express, “We found that she had consumed food. We also found that she was in touc h with the main accused, Raj Kushwaha. The plan was to pass this off as a robbery gone wrong.”

Raja and Sonam were reported missing last month during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. Earlier this month, Raja’s body was found, and the search for Sonam was stepped up. On Sunday night, police arrested Kushwaha for allegedly orchestrating Raja’s murder with Sonam’s help. Once he was caught, Sonam surrendered at a police station in Uttar Pradesh.

Investigators in Meghalaya Police told The Indian Express that Sonam allegedly left her home with jewellery and had also asked her husband to carry expensive jewellery with the alleged intention of passing his killing off as a robbery gone wrong.

Syiem said, “This is what our investigation has found. The couple had not booked return flight tickets. They had initially made plans to visit a temple in Guwahati. Then they chose to visit Meghalaya, and this very spot must have been chosen to commit the crime since a tourist recently went missing here and his body was found in the gorge after he suffered a fall. We are still investigating why the Meghalaya trip was planned.”

Story continues below this ad

In April, the body of a Hungarian tourist, who had been missing since March 29 after checking into a Shillong hotel, was found on a steep slope in the East Khasi Hills district.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:
alleged murder