As more and more details on the chilling murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, an Indore-based businessman, in Meghalaya continue to emerge, a fresh report on Tuesday claimed that his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi had offered Rs 20 lakh to the hired killers.
Quoting police sources, NDTV reported that Sonam had also helped the other accused in pushing Raja’s body into a deep gorge in the Sohra area (also known as Cherrapunji) of East Khasi Hills district.
Sonam was placed under arrest after she surrendered before the Nandganj Police Station in Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh on Monday, days after Raja’s body was discovered in the ditch on June 2.
Three other accused—Akash Rajput (19), Vishal Singh Chauhan (22), and Raj Singh Kushwaha (21)—has also been arrested in the case.
According to reports, Sonam hired hitmen to kill her husband, as she wanted to live with her lover.
#WATCH | Raja Raghuvanshi murder case | Visuals of the guest house in Shillong, Meghalaya, where Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam Raghuvanshi stayed. The guest house is closed. pic.twitter.com/qtGNhm13oX
— ANI (@ANI) June 10, 2025
Raja and Sonam, who got married on May 11 in Indore, went to Meghalaya on their honeymoon. They disappeared on May 23, hours after checking out of a homestay at Nongriat village, 20 km from where his body was found.
According to the NDTV report, Sonam and Raja Raghuvanshi went on a trek to a steep peak to see a waterfall on May 23, with the hitmen following them. When they reached a deserted place, Sonam allegedly asked the hitmen to kill her husband.
The hitmen, however, refused to commit the crime, and it was at this time that Sonam allegedly raised her offer to Rs 20 lakh.
Police found two cuts on Raja’s head during the inquest after his body was taken out of the gorge. "The autopsy report from NEIGRIHMS has indicated there are two sharp cuts on the head of the deceased—one behind and one on the front," East Khasi Hills district's SP Vivek Syiem told news agency PTI.
