Sonam’s ₹20 Lakh Murder Plot: Aided in Dumping Raja’s Body in Gorge, Shocking Honeymoon Case Exposed

National News: Raja Raghuvanshi, a thriving Indore entrepreneur, wed Sonam on May 11, 2025, in a lavish ceremony arranged via a community marriage booklet. Their honeymoon in Meghalaya, planned just nine days later, seemed like a romantic escape to the misty hills of Cherrapunji. Yet, Raja hesitated, sensing Sonam’s unusual insistence on the trip. She persuaded him to carry jewellery worth 12 lakh rupees, claiming it was for “memories.” Behind his back, Sonam was entangled with Rajesh Kushwaha, her family’s accountant, weaving a deadly scheme. Within days of their vows, she allegedly finalized a plan to kill Raja during their getaway. 

A Murder in the Hills

On May 22, the couple arrived in Mawkdok village, known for its serene trails. Sonam had already contacted three men—Vikram Yadav, Arjun Thakur, and Sanjay Malhotra—who reached Shillong a day prior. These weren’t seasoned assassins but acquaintances of Rajesh, lured by a 20-lakh-rupee deal, up from an initial 5 lakh. On May 24, during a trek near Dawki Falls, Sonam lagged behind, citing fatigue, as the trio ambushed Raja. He was bludgeoned with a locally bought axe, his body dumped in a ravine. Sonam, witnesses later claimed, calmly watched and even guided the disposal. The idyllic hills bore witness to a cold-blooded act.

A Web of Lies

Post-murder, Sonam fled to Indore by bus, meeting Rajesh in a hideout he’d arranged. She later reached Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, surrendering on June 7 with a fabricated tale of being drugged and kidnapped. Police saw through her story—no injuries, no distress. A cryptic post from Raja’s phone, “Forever together,” raised red flags. No couple selfies from the trip further fueled suspicions. Meghalaya Police launched “Operation Honeymoon,” a 100-member sting, tracking the trio to Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. 

Cracking the Case

A villager’s account of seeing Sonam with “strange men” and CCTV from a Shillong guesthouse broke the case open. A bloodied shawl and an axe, purchased in Guwahati, tied Sonam to the crime. Raja’s body, recovered on June 3, was identified by a wrist tattoo. Call logs showed Sonam sharing their live location with the killers. Despite her brother’s plea for a CBI probe, claiming her innocence, evidence was airtight. DGP LR Bishnoi hailed the swift arrests, completed in six days, as a triumph.