Police uncover shocking trail of movement, digital footprints, and a possible escape plan following the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi.
Indore/Shillong, June 10, 2025 — As the Meghalaya honeymoon murder case deepens, investigators are chasing a key question: Where was Sonam, the prime suspect and newlywed wife of the victim, for the 17 days following the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi?
Raja was murdered on May 23 during a trip to Meghalaya, and the case has since taken a chilling turn. Authorities have now linked Sonam and four others, including Raj Kushwah, an accountant in her father’s furniture business, to the alleged conspiracy.
A Chilling Timeline of Disappearance
According to police sources, Sonam is suspected to have returned to Indore on May 25, just two days after the murder. She reportedly met Raj Kushwah, who then allegedly hid her in a rented room near Dewas Naka.
Two days later, she is believed to have been sent by road, possibly by taxi, to Varanasi, a journey spanning over 1,000 km. From there, Sonam disappeared off the grid, only to resurface in Nandganj, Ghazipur (Eastern UP), around 1:15 AM on June 8–9.
Investigators are considering another theory — that Sonam boarded a bus to Gorakhpur from Varanasi ISBT on June 8, but deboarded after 65 km at a roadside dhaba near Nandganj upon hearing about the arrest of Raj Kushwah and three accomplices that same night.
Eyewitnesses at the Varanasi bus terminal said Sonam was seen speaking with two young men before boarding the bus, adding another layer of mystery.
“If the second theory is true, why was she going toward Gorakhpur?” an official asked. “That route has historically been used by fugitives attempting to cross into Nepal. We’re verifying all leads gathered from early questioning of Sonam and the four male suspects.”
Digital Trails and Chilling Planning
In a startling revelation, digital payment records show that Sonam used Raj Kushwah’s UPI-linked bank account throughout the North-East trip. This includes payments made while she was traveling with Raja, raising red flags about premeditated involvement.
Authorities revealed that Raj Kushwah provided Rs 50,000 and two mobile phones — one keypad and one Android — to his associates Vishal, Akash, and Anand, who then traveled from Delhi to Meghalaya via Rajdhani Express.
The keypad phone was used to update Raj on movement, while the Android phone received live location data and photos from Sonam, enabling the group to track the couple’s exact location from Guwahati to the crime scene between May 20–23.
Confession and Evidence Trail
Assistant Commissioner Poonam Chand Yadav, part of the joint Indore–Meghalaya task force, confirmed that Vishal confessed to striking Raja from behind on May 23, likely causing his death.
Further searches at Vishal’s home in Kailash Nagar, Indore, led to the seizure of clothes worn during the attack. Nearby grounds were also combed, revealing discarded SIM cards and additional evidence.
Police say the three accomplices — all childhood friends of Raj Kushwah — were part of a calculated murder plan, with Sonam allegedly acting as the inside link throughout the trip.
Transfer for Further Investigation
The Meghalaya police team currently stationed in Indore has flown all five suspects — Sonam, Raj Kushwah, Vishal, Akash, and Anand — to Shillong, where they will undergo joint interrogation and likely face formal charges.
With mounting digital and testimonial evidence, officials are confident they are closing in on the full picture of this chilling honeymoon turned homicide.
