The investigation into the shocking murder of Raja Raghuvanshi during his honeymoon in Meghalaya has taken a darker turn as police uncover fresh leads and deepen their probe into what appears to be a meticulously planned conspiracy. With all five primary accused — including Raja’s wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi — now in custody, the Meghalaya Police are pressing forward with interrogations to unravel the full extent of the alleged plot.

One of the most significant developments in the case is the emergence of Jitendra Raghuvanshi, a cousin of Sonam, whose bank account was allegedly used to pay the hired killers. According to police sources, the first installment of the payment was made from Jitendra’s account on May 23 — the day Raja was murdered on a secluded road in Sohra.

Sonam’s grandfather, Govind Raghuvanshi, admitted to police that Jitendra is connected to the family’s business. However, he claimed ignorance of any criminal activity, stating, “Sonam opened the account in Jitendra’s name and used it. We had no knowledge of illegal transactions like hawala.”

Investigators, however, remain skeptical. “The use of a relative’s account for such a transaction raises red flags,” said a senior official. Police are considering summoning Jitendra for questioning. If evidence surfaces of his knowledge or involvement, he could be named as the sixth accused in the case.

Machete may hold clues to premeditation

A machete believed to be the murder weapon was recovered near Raja’s body. Investigators suspect that the weapon might have been purchased from Guwahati before the couple arrived in Meghalaya. Whether it was bought for a photoshoot — as Sonam allegedly claimed — or was part of a pre-planned murder remains under investigation.

Adding to the suspicions, police found a trolley bag at a Sohra homestay containing Sonam’s mangalsutra and wedding ring — symbols she reportedly discarded before the murder. “A married woman abandoning such sacred items is extremely unusual,” said Meghalaya DGP L.R. Bishnoi, hinting at possible intent to sever marital ties ahead of the crime.

The couple reportedly arrived in Sohra on May 22, but due to a lack of bookings, left their luggage at a local homestay and proceeded to Nangriyat village. They returned on May 23 and visited the Weisdong waterfall, where Raja was later found murdered on June 2.

Sonam went missing after the incident and was eventually tracked down and arrested on June 8 in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. She was then brought to Shillong for further questioning.

Love triangle and hired killers

Police believe the murder may have stemmed from an alleged pre-marital relationship between Sonam and co-accused Raj Singh Kushwaha, which continued after her marriage. Along with Raj, three others — Akash Rajput (19), Vishal Singh Chauhan (22), and Anand Kurmi (23) — have also been arrested. All four were taken into custody from Madhya Pradesh, and are suspected to have actively participated in the killing.

Sonam was produced in court on Wednesday, where police requested a 10-day remand. The court granted eight days of custody, and full-scale interrogation is set to begin Thursday, said an investigating officer.

Currently, police are completing documentation and preparing to reconstruct the crime scene as part of their investigation.

Sonam’s family has publicly disowned her, further isolating the prime accused. Her brother, Govind Raghuvanshi, issued a stark statement: “I spoke to her for two minutes in Ghazipur. I could see it in her eyes — she had done it. We have severed all ties.”

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) remains focused on uncovering every detail of the murder — from financial transactions to the motive behind Raja’s brutal killing. With mounting evidence, a love triangle, financial trails, and suspicious pre-trip behavior, police believe they are close to exposing one of the most sensational and cold-blooded murder plots in recent times.