The gruesome murder of Raja Raghuvanshi in Meghalaya, while honeymooning with his wife Sonam, has grabbed national headlines. The 29-year-old's body was recovered from a gorge, while his wife is still missing despite intense search and rescue efforts by the police and NDRF personnel.
It was revealed that Raja Raghuvanshi was hacked to death using a machete. The murder weapon was reportedly brand new and recovered by the police from the crime scene. The couple went missing on May 23, not long after they had left a homestay in Nongriat village on a rented scooter. The decomposed body of the man was recovered on Monday from a gorge near the Weisawdong Falls, almost 20 km away from the hospitality facility.
The family of the victim has demanded a CBI probe into the incident, alleging foul play. They have also accused the police of ignoring their repeated requests and fear that the investigation is being misled by individuals with vested interests. As things stand, here are five latest developments in the Raja Raghuvanshi–Sonam missing case in Meghalaya:
1. It was Raja's brother, Vipin, who identified the decomposed body by a tattoo on the hand. Vipin reportedly said that he had repeatedly asked the Meghalaya Police to concentrate search efforts in the very area where his brother’s lifeless body was later found. However, his requests were ignored for many days before drones were finally deployed. He alleged that some people were trying to mislead investigators about the crime scene, according to a report.
2. The man's body was found during a drone search. It was located within a deep gorge below the Wei Sawdong Falls near the Riat Arliang parking lot. His family pointed out that the area is surrounded by a perimeter wall and is nearly impossible to access. They claim there was no chance of the body ending up there unless it had been thrown by someone very familiar with the surroundings.
3. The probe team has reportedly confirmed that Sonam and Raghuvanshi had a disagreement with some locals. According to a *Times of India* report, the conflict involved a female coffee vendor. While the family of the Indore native believes this altercation may have led to an attack, the police maintain that it is unlikely the woman could have committed such a crime without leaving behind major evidence, the report added.
4. In her last conversation, Sonam reportedly told her mother-in-law that she was still fasting despite being on a difficult trekking trail. Their destination was said to be a waterfall deep inside the forest. Raja’s mother advised her to break the fast given the arduous physical task, but she refused. However, the call was abruptly cut off, and Sonam promised to call back—but she never did.
5. While the motive for the crime is yet to be determined, the body was found without a gold chain, wallet, or rings. However, the smartwatch on his wrist had not been removed. Also found near the body were a strip of medicines and a shirt, according to the TOI report.