What should have been a romantic escape in the misty hills of Shillong became one of India’s most chilling crimes. The newlyweds, Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi, set out on May 20 for their honeymoon, smiling for photos and sharing blissful moments online. But behind the joy was a dark, calculated betrayal that would leave Raja dead and Sonam at the center of a nationwide investigation.
Within days of their arrival, the couple vanished. Concerned family members alerted authorities, sparking a search through Meghalaya’s treacherous terrain — thick fog, heavy rain, and rugged hills slowing the effort. Days later, Raja’s body was discovered deep in a remote gorge, stripped of belongings and showing signs of foul play. The case quickly escalated from a missing person report to a premeditated murder investigation.
Early suspicion fell on Raj Kushwaha, rumored to be Sonam’s lover. Initial reports suggested jealousy might have driven a crime of passion. But investigators soon uncovered a far darker story: Sonam herself orchestrated the murder. Months of manipulation had convinced Raj to help her eliminate her husband, promising love, money, and a future together — all lies to secure her deadly plan.
Raj recruited three accomplices — Vishal Singh, Anand Kurmi, and Akash Rajput — and the group carefully executed the ambush. Between May 23 and 24, Raja was lured to a remote location and pushed into a deep gorge. Meanwhile, Sonam maintained her façade, sending messages home and smiling in hotel photos, all while coordinating the attack through constant calls and messages.
Continue reading on next page…