Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder: Accused Point Fingers as Investigators Seek Answers

In a chilling twist to the alleged "honeymoon murder" in Meghalaya last month, investigators say that Sonam Raghuvanshi, accused of killing her husband Raja Raghuvanshi, and her alleged partner-in-crime, Raj Kushwaha, are locked in a blame game. Sources close to the ongoing questioning have revealed to The Indian Express that both are vehemently denying planning the murder and attempting to shift responsibility onto the other.

Details emerging from the interrogation of other accused individuals paint a grim picture of the incident. Police were told that after one of the alleged hired killers, Vishal, struck Raja on the head, the body was then pushed down a gorge. "Sonam allegedly took her husband to the spot after telling him that she wanted to take a picture," a senior officer revealed. "The men claim they took her help in throwing the body. Then they travelled on a scooter together and dispersed.”

On Wednesday, a district and sessions court in Meghalaya granted police eight days of custody for Sonam and four others. The police explained their need to confront the accused with gathered evidence and, crucially, to recreate the exact scene of the crime.

Investigators are expected to transport the accused to Sohra in the coming days to piece together the events of that fateful day.

SIT Chief Herbert Pyniaid Kharkongor emphasized the critical nature of this phase of the investigation, stating, “We have to ask them many crucial details about the murder. We are yet to ascertain details of the money transactions, how the murder was planned and confront them with evidence.”

Police also plan to press Sonam about the gold and other valuable items she reportedly took with her on the honeymoon. "We recovered her mangalsutra and a toe ring from the hotel where they left their bags. We knew that something was amiss just days after the murder," the officer disclosed, indicating early suspicions.

The prosecution appears to have a strong case, backed by compelling evidence including the recovered murder weapon, blood-stained clothing, CCTV footage of the couple, and testimonies from multiple individuals, including a local guide who reportedly saw the accused together.

Another officer from the Meghalaya police highlighted a key area of focus for the investigative team: how the suspects managed to access the crime scene. "They chose a path which was not usually taken by villagers and tourists. It was a site of dispute between two clans. We have to ascertain how they did the recce," the officer noted, suggesting a pre-planned and deliberate choice of location.

Raja and Sonam had been reported missing last month during what was supposed to be their honeymoon in Meghalaya. Raja’s body was tragically discovered earlier this month, intensifying the search for Sonam. The breakthrough came Sunday night when police arrested Kushwaha, alleging he orchestrated Raja’s murder with Sonam’s assistance. Following his apprehension, Sonam subsequently surrendered at a police station in Uttar Pradesh, bringing the key suspects into custody.