In the misty, romantic hills of Shillong, India, a young couple’s honeymoon was meant to mark the start of a new life together. Instead, it ended in tragedy that shocked an entire nation.
On May 20, businessman Raja Raghuvanshi arrived in Shillong with his new bride, Sonam, full of excitement for their future. Friends and relatives remembered how he spoke fondly of his plans, unaware that those dreams would soon come to a brutal end.
Just four days later, Raja’s decomposing body was discovered deep inside a remote canyon. His wedding ring and identification were missing, and his death was clearly no accident. Police quickly determined they were dealing with a planned and deliberate killing.
The Web of Suspicion
At first, investigators turned their focus toward Raj Kushwaha, a man believed to be romantically involved with Sonam. It seemed like a straightforward case of jealousy—until the evidence began to reveal a far darker plot.
Sonam, the grieving bride, was not an innocent victim. She was the mastermind.
Police say Sonam meticulously orchestrated her husband’s murder, manipulating multiple men into carrying out her plan.
The Manipulation
Investigations revealed that Sonam had convinced Raj Kushwaha that she loved him, promising they could be together if Raja was gone. But Raj wasn’t her only pawn. She allegedly lured in three others—Vishal Singh, Anand Kurmi, and Akash Rajput—with promises of money.
Phone data painted a chilling picture. Sonam had tracked Raja’s every move during the honeymoon. Between May 23 and May 24, the men ambushed Raja under her direction, overpowering him and pushing him into a gorge. His body was left there to rot, unseen and unmourned.
To the accomplices, it may have been an easy payday. To Raj, it was an act of devotion. But for Sonam, it was just another step in a plan that went even deeper. She reportedly intended to dispose of Raj once his role was fulfilled—because someone else had already taken his place in her tangled web of deceit.
