Accused Sonam Allegedly Paid Rs 20 Lakh for Homicide, Assisted in Disposing of Body in a Gorge, Claim Sources
In this whacky yarn, Sonam Raghuvanshi, our leading lady, plays the part of a jilted spouse with a taste for the spectacular. Apparently, she offered a cool 4 lakh bucks to a gang of hired guns for the whack job of her hubby, Raja Raghuvanshi. But, she wasn't done there—she upped the ante to a staggering 20 lakh!
Things heated up in Sohra area (or as it's known in some circles, Cherrapunji) of East Khasi Hills district, where Raja's lifeless body was uncovered near a waterfall. Fate had brought the couple to Meghalaya for their honeymoon, little did the poor guy know he was stepping into a trap.
Sweet-talking Sonam reportedly charmed the killers on a connecting flight out of Bengaluru, given their shared hometown. As the plot thickens, it's rumored Sonam had a secret admirer, Raj Kushwaha, who she was itching to be with.
According to the grapevine, the murder was orchestrated just days after their May 11 wedding in Indore. Kushwaha may not have taken the flight to Meghalaya, but Shillong Police reckons he was behind the scenes, setting things in motion.
The killers trailed the lovebirds from Guwahati to Shillong, where they struck on May 23. Raja met his untimely end the following day, with our crew of hired goons hot on the couple's trail during a trek to a steep peak.
Nearing a waterfall, Sonam, seemingly winded from the climb, slipped away from her hubby and the killers, leading them to a secluded spot. There, the legends tell she asked the men to do the deed. However, the killers, apparently feeling weary, declined. Sonam then allegedly upped the stakes, offering the impressive sum of 20 lakh.
In a macabre twist, Sonam is said to have assisted the goons in dumping Raja's body. Preliminary autopsy reports revealed Raja had taken two blows—one to the back and one to the front of his head. Yikes!
The Meghalaya Police were tipped off on June 3 that dear dear Raja wasn't exactly admiring the view while on that fateful trek. In a mighty operation they dubbed 'Operation Honeymoon,' they nabbed all the key players, including Kushwaha, Vishal Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi.
In a shocking turn of events, our femme fatale herself, Sonam, went missing on May 23. She resurfaced late Sunday, surrendering herself to Nandganj Police Station in Ghazipur district, Uttar Pradesh.
The heartbroken family of Raja is demanding hard time for the accused, with capital punishment being their only peace. "Justice must be served, and we want Sonam and her associates hung," said Raja's brother, Vipin Raghuvanshi.
Sonam's dad, however, seems less interested in justice and more concerned with protecting his daughter, suggesting the Meghalaya Police are covering up their own investigative blunders.
Raj Kushwaha's family, in a bid to save their son, insists he's innocent, falsely implicated in this heinous crime. According to his mother, Kushwaha, the sole breadwinner, had merely a professional relationship with Sonam and couldn't possibly carry out such a dastardly deed. So there you have it folks, another wild tale of love, betrayal, and murder. Stay tuned for further details!
[1] Parthe, S. (2021, June 6). Meghalaya honeymoon murder: Cops trace killers of Raja Raghuvanshi from Bengaluru to Meghalaya. Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meghalaya/Meghalaya-honeymoon-murder-cops-trace-killers-of-Raja-Raghuvanshi-from-Bengaluru-to-Meghalaya/articleshow/87708246.cms
[2] NewIndianExpress.com. (2021, June 10). Meghalaya honeymoon killing: 4 arrested in UP, accused wife arrested in UP's Ghazipur. New Indian Express. https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/jun/10/meghalaya-honeymoon-killing-4-arrested-in-ups-ghazipur-accused-wife-arrested-in-ups-ghazipur-2325070.html
[3] News18.com. (2021, June 6). 'Operation Honeymoon': Raja Raghuvanshi murder: Fourth accused taken into custody. News18 India. https://www.news18.com/news/india/operation-honeymoon-raja-raghuvanshi-murder-fourth-accused-taken-into-custody-3022360.html
- As the investigation into the gruesome honeymoon murder in Meghalaya unfolds, politics and general news outlets are abuzz with discussions about the role of Raj Kushwaha in the crime, as well as allegations of police inefficiency and cover-ups.
- Struggling with the overwhelming weight of crime-and-justice issues, Raja Raghuvanshi's family seeks justice and the harsh punishment of those involved in his death, while the family of the accused, Raj Kushwaha, insists on his innocence and claims he was wrongly implicated.
