A Meghalaya court on Tuesday reportedly granted bail to Indore resident Sonam Raghuvanshi, who is accused of killing her husband during their honeymoon in the northeastern state in 2025. The court has granted bail to the accused. However, all necessary legal procedures are being followed, and the police will continue to pursue the case in accordance with the law, superintendent of police (East Khasi Hills) Vivek Syiem was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Who is Sonam Raghuvanshi?
Sonam was taken into custody along with her alleged partner, Raj Kushwaha, and three other individuals for their suspected involvement in planning and executing the murder of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi.The couple travelled to Guwahati and Shillong for their honeymoon on May 20, but were reported missing on May 23. After nearly 10 days of search operations, Raja’s body was discovered on June 2 in a deep gorge in Sohra, located in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. Sonam later turned herself in at Ghazipur.
She, along with four other accused—Raj Kushwaha, who is allegedly Sonam’s lover, and associates Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi—has been arrested and is currently in judicial custody.
Meghalaya honeymoon murder case
As previously reported by HT, Sonam’s family, displeased with her relationship with Raj Kushwaha, arranged for her to marry Raja Raghuvanshi.Upset over this, Sonam had reportedly warned her family of serious consequences if they went ahead with her marriage to Raja, which they did, Vivek Syiem said earlier.
According to officials, the special investigation team (SIT) has, in a 790-page chargesheet, formally accused Raja’s wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha, and three hired assailants, Vishal Singh Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi, under Sections 103(1), 238(a), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Case timeline
May 11: Raja Raghuvanshi marries Sonam in Indore.
May 20: The couple reaches Shillong for their honeymoon and then heads to Sohra.
May 23: The couple checks out of Nongriat homestay; Raja is last seen alive; the murder was allegedly carried out near Wei Sawdong Falls.
May 26: The couple is reported missing; a large search operation begins.
May 31: An abandoned scooter is found near Golden Pines Dhaba.
June 2: Raja’s mutilated body is recovered from a gorge at Arliang Riat Kunongrim.
June 8-11: The SIT arrests Sonam, Raj Kushwaha, and three alleged assailants in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
June 22-25: James, Tomar, and Ahirwar are arrested in Madhya Pradesh for destruction of evidence.