Honeymoon horror: ‘Mangalsutra’ left by Sonam helps investigators crack Meghalaya murder

Sonam Raghuvanshi, in purple gown, accused of plotting her husband’s homicide throughout their honeymoon in Meghalaya being delivered to Phulwari Sharif police station by Meghalaya police, in Patna, Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
| Picture Credit score: PTI

Raja Raghuvanshi and his spouse Sonam had left their suitcase at a homestay in Sohra earlier than going lacking, and the ‘mangalsutra’ and a hoop present in it helped investigators crack the honeymoon homicide case, Meghalaya’s Director Normal of Police (DGP) I Nongrang mentioned on Wednesday (June 11, 2025).

Sonam (25) and Raja (29) received married in Indore on Could 11 and reached Meghalaya by way of Guwahati in Assam on Could 20 for his or her honeymoon. Each of them went lacking on Could 23 in Sohra in East Khasi Hills district, hours after trying out of a homestay at Nongriat village.

Raja’s physique was present in a gorge close to Weisawdong Falls on June 2. A search continued for Sonam, who emerged in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur, round 1,200 km away, within the early hours of June 9 and surrendered as police arrested his boyfriend Raj Kushwaha and the three contract killers employed by them to homicide Raja.

Additionally Learn | Meghalaya homicide: One of many accused took folks to man’s funeral in Indore

“We recovered Sonam’s ‘mangalsutra’ and a hoop from the suitcase the couple deserted at a homestay in Sohra. A married lady forsaking the ornaments gave us a clue to pursue her as a suspect within the case,” DGP Nongrang informed PTI.

‘Mangalsutra’ is a sacred necklace worn by married Hindu girls, signifying their bond with their husband.

The couple walked into the homestay in Sohra on Could 22 with none prior reserving, one other police officer, who’s a part of the investigation, informed PTI.

They didn’t get a room there, and thus they determined to maintain their suitcase on the homestay as it could be troublesome to trek over 3,000 steps with it to the Nongriat village to see the double-decker root bridge, he mentioned.

Whereas their suitcase remained on the Sohra homestay, they spent the evening at a homestay in Nongriat earlier than trying out early on Could 23. They trekked again to Sohra, took their scooter from the parking and went to Weisawdong Falls, the place Raja was allegedly killed by the three contract killers in entrance of his spouse, he added.

PTI had on Saturday reported {that a} tour information had seen the couple with three Hindi-speaking males whereas they had been climbing again to Sohra from Nongriat.

“The accused individuals have admitted to the crime, and with all of the proof, there is no such thing as a room to disclaim,” the police officer mentioned.

A courtroom in Shillong has despatched Sonam, her boyfriend Raj and the three hitmen to eight-day police custody.