In a crime that has stunned the country, a young bride allegedly conspired with her lover and hired killers to murder her husband during their honeymoon in Meghalaya barely days after their wedding in Indore.

Raja Raghuvanshi, 29, was killed and his body was dumped into a remote forest gorge near Cherrapunji. What initially appeared to be a tragic accident unravelled into a calculated murder involving his new wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, and her lover, Raj Kushwaha.

From Wedding Vows to a Violent End

The couple had tied the knot on May 11 in Indore and set off for their honeymoon on May 20. But by May 23, both were reported missing in Meghalaya. On June 2, Raja’s body was discovered with deep machete wounds, including fatal injuries to both the front and back of his head.

With Sonam missing, a search was launched. She later surfaced in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur on June 8, claiming to have been drugged and taken there against her will. But police soon uncovered a darker truth.

“She Is a Very Poor Planner”

Speaking to NDTV, Additional Director General (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash of the UP Police shared critical details:

“Sonam presented herself as a victim before the police, claiming she was drugged and brought to Ghazipur. She informed her family about this, knowing the police would eventually reach her.”

Her plan quickly fell apart. Around 3 am, she reportedly contacted her family from a roadside eatery near the Ghazipur-Varanasi road. Alerted by her family, the Madhya Pradesh Police coordinated with local authorities, leading to her arrest.

“Sonam is a poor planner. She lacked knowledge of police procedures and thought she could escape by posing as a victim, but she failed,” Mr. Yash said.

Chilling Messages and a Murder Plot

According to an India Today report Sonam and her lover plotted the killing just three days after her marriage. She allegedly shared with Raj that she disliked any physical intimacy with her husband and had emotionally distanced herself from Raja even before the wedding.

“She told Raj about planning to kill her husband three days after their marriage,” reports said.

Investigators say she chose Meghalaya far from their home state specifically to carry out the crime undetected.

Arrests and Key Accused

Sonam eventually confessed to orchestrating the murder. Alongside her and Raj Kushwaha, police have also arrested three men Aakash Rajpoot, Vikas alias Vicky, and Anand believed to be contract killers hired for the murder.

All suspects were apprehended in coordinated operations in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Meghalaya Police are now leading the investigation and handling further legal proceedings.

“This case is unique due to the extensive planning to avoid detection by taking the body to Meghalaya and dumping it in an inaccessible location. However, the plan failed,” ADG Yash added.

Family in Shock, Social Media in Mourning

Raja’s sister, Shrasti Raghuvanshi, an Instagram influencer, has been sharing emotional updates and calling for justice. One of her posts featured a wedding photo of Raja and Sonam with the caption:

“My brother had vowed to be with Sonam for seven lives, but he couldn’t even stay for seven days. What had he done to deserve this? You could have eloped if you liked someone else. Why kill him?”

In another widely viewed video, she posted footage of Sonam being escorted by police, and a symbolic act of mourners tearing photos from the couple’s wedding album.

The victim’s mother, Uma Raghuvanshi, expressed heartbreak and confusion over her daughter-in-law’s alleged involvement. “Why did she leave him there and not try to save him?” she asked.

Lover Seen Comforting Bride’s Father at Funeral

Adding to the family’s anguish, Raj Kushwaha the alleged mastermind was seen consoling Sonam’s father, Devi Singh, during Raja’s funeral. The moment was captured in a video posted by Shrasti with the caption:

“Raj Kushwaha was seen with Sonam’s father at Raja’s house.”

This image has further fueled public outrage as questions swirl over how deeply the family knew about Sonam’s relationship with Raj.

Police: Motive Rooted in an Affair

Superintendent Vivek Syiem, leading the Meghalaya police probe, confirmed substantial evidence against Sonam and Raj. Raja’s brother, Vipul Raghuvanshi, revealed that Raj was previously employed by Sonam and that they used to talk frequently.

“I’ve never seen Raj Kushwaha; I’ve just heard his name,” he said, adding that if Raj was involved, Sonam likely played a part too.

As the case moves forward, Sonam remains the prime suspect, with the nation watching closely for justice in what has come to be known as the “honeymoon murder case.”