Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder: Mangalsutra Left Behind at Homestay Helped Crack the Case

Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder: Sonam’s Mangalsutra Left at Homestay Led Police to the Killers.

The murder of Raja Raghuvanshi during his honeymoon in Meghalaya was cracked after a critical clue—a mangalsutra and a ring—was discovered in a suitcase left behind by his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, at a homestay in Sohra. The ornaments, recovered by investigators, raised suspicions and ultimately helped expose a chilling murder-for-hire plot.

According to Meghalaya Director General of Police (DGP) I Nongrang, the recovery of the jewelry became the turning point in the case. “A married woman leaving behind her mangalsutra was highly unusual and made us question her role,” Nongrang said.

Raja (29) and Sonam (25), who were married in Indore on May 11, arrived in Meghalaya on May 20. Just three days later, on May 23, they vanished after checking out of a homestay in Nongriat village. On June 2, Raja’s body was found in a gorge near Weisawdong Falls in the East Khasi Hills.

The mystery deepened until June 9, when Sonam surrendered to police in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh—over 1,200 km from the crime scene. Her boyfriend, Raj Kushwaha, and three contract killers were later arrested.

Police revealed that the couple had initially gone to a Sohra homestay on May 22 without a reservation. As no room was available, they left their luggage behind and trekked to Nongriat village. The next morning, they returned to Sohra, collected their scooter, and headed to Weisawdong Falls—where Raja was allegedly killed in Sonam’s presence by the hired assailants.

A local tour guide later confirmed seeing the couple with three Hindi-speaking men during their trek—another key detail that helped piece the case together. “All five suspects have confessed to their roles in the murder,” an investigating officer said. “With strong physical evidence and confessions, the case against them is clear.”

A court in Shillong has remanded Sonam, her boyfriend, and the three contract killers to eight days of police custody. Investigations are ongoing to further unravel the planning and motive behind the crime.