Horrifying Twist in Honeymoon Murder: Bride Fled as Husband Was Brutally Attacked

Disturbing new information has come to light in the horrific murder of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, revealing the chilling role of his newly-wed wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, during the brutal attack on their honeymoon in Meghalaya. Police have disclosed that Sonam fled the scene the moment one of the hired hitmen, Vishal Singh Chauhan, struck Raja with a machete, only returning after her husband had succumbed to multiple injuries.

These grim details emerged as a Special Investigation Team (SIT) meticulously recreated the crime scene in Sohra, approximately 65 km from Shillong, taking all five arrested accused, including Sonam, back to the spot.

Raja Raghuvanshi, 29, was brutally murdered last month during his honeymoon. The police investigation has implicated Sonam, her lover Raj Kushwaha, and three alleged hitmen – Vishal Singh Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi. All five individuals are now in custody.

During the crime scene recreation, police confirmed that Vishal Singh Chauhan was indeed the first to attack Raja with a machete. "When he started bleeding and screaming, Sonam ran away. Vishal and the other (hitmen) continued to attack Raja with the machete," an anonymous police officer revealed, adding, "Sonam returned to the spot only after Raja died in the attack."

Adding another layer to the already shocking case, a second machete, or "dao," used in Raja's murder was discovered during the crime scene reconstruction. This second weapon was found in the same gorge, below the Wei Sawdong Parking Lot at Riat Arliang, where Raja's body and the initial machete had been recovered. Police initially believed only one "dao" was used, but the recreation on Tuesday unveiled the involvement of a second weapon.

The case, which initially began as a "missing couple" report after Raja and Sonam vanished during their Meghalaya honeymoon, took a tragic and shocking turn, exposing a profound betrayal.

The couple, both hailing from Indore, had tied the knot on May 11. Police investigations indicate that the wedding proceeded despite Sonam's ongoing relationship with Raj Kushwaha, who worked as an accountant at her family's furniture sheet business, which Sonam herself managed.

After their wedding in Indore, Raja and Sonam traveled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon. They were reported missing on May 23, mere hours after checking out of a homestay in Nongriat village. Raja's body was eventually discovered on June 2, about 20 km from Nongriat.

Amid an intense search for the "missing" Sonam, she surprisingly resurfaced in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, on June 8, and subsequently surrendered at the Nandganj police station. Her surfacing came just hours after Akash, Vishal, and Anand were apprehended in Uttar Pradesh, Indore, and Sagar (Madhya Pradesh). Raj Kushwaha was arrested later.

On June 11, Sonam reportedly confessed to orchestrating her husband's murder. Police have also stated that Sonam's cousin, Jitendra Raghuvanshi, had paid the first installment to the three hitmen involved in the crime.

In a strong statement, Sonam's brother Govind has publicly disowned her, expressing unwavering solidarity with Raja's grieving family and vowing to assist them in their quest for justice in this case that has deeply shaken the nation.