Rejected information, determined telephone name: How Meghalaya honeymoon homicide case was cracked

The thriller surrounding the lacking Indore couple in Meghalaya has lastly been solved.

In a significant breakthrough, police on Monday confirmed the arrest of Sonam Raghuvanshi — spouse of the deceased Raja Raghuvanshi — together with three males accused of being contract killers employed to homicide her husband throughout their honeymoon.

Over the past couple of weeks, the case had captured nationwide headlines, with police launching an intensive search operation to seek out the lacking girl. After Raja was discovered brutally murdered in a gorge within the Sohra area, her household suspected that the couple may need been robbed or kidnapped. However now, the case has unravelled as a chilly and calculated homicide plot.

However how did the police crack the case? Right here’s what we all know

When a rejected native information turned a key witness

On the day Sonam and Raja went lacking, the couple was trekking by a forested path, reportedly on their option to Meghalaya’s famed double-decker dwelling root bridges in Sohra.

On their approach, Albert Pde, a neighborhood information within the Nongriat village, had supplied his companies to newlyweds. The couple declined, selecting one other information.

Nevertheless, what was odd was that Pde noticed them once more the following day—this time, accompanied by three unknown males, climbing the three,000 steps again to Mawlakhiat.

“I noticed the couple with three males on the best way up. The boys have been strolling forward, and the lady was behind them. They have been talking in Hindi,” Albert later informed the police. His assertion would develop into central to the investigation, serving to police observe the suspects.

Earlier, an audio clip believed to be the couple’s final contact with their household earlier than vanishing additionally surfaced.  Within the recording, accessed by India Immediately, Sonam was heard interacting together with her mother-in-law.

Sonam describes the robust terrain they have been navigating. “We’re in a dense forest, nothing is obtainable right here. The climb is steep. I had informed him (Raja) to not go, however he by no means listens. I’m exhausted. The meals right here isn’t good both. It’s arduous to breathe whereas strolling,” she says within the clip.

That telephone name turned out to be the final time anybody heard from them.

Eleven days after they disappeared, a police drone situated Raja’s decomposed physique on the backside of a gorge close to Wei Sawdong Falls. Police then launched a
main search operation
, with greater than 50 to 60 folks searching for Sonam, who was nonetheless lacking.

‘Sonam got here crying, requested for telephone’

The seek for Sonam got here to an sudden finish — not within the forests of Meghalaya, however over 1,000 kilometres away in Uttar Pradesh.

She was discovered close to a roadside dhaba in Nandganj, round 40 km from Varanasi. In accordance with the dhaba proprietor, Sahil Yadav, Sonam seemed distraught and requested to make use of his cell phone to name house.

“It’s a matter of round 1 am final evening, when she got here to the store and was crying. She mentioned that she needed to name house. I gave her my cell phone and he or she dialled. I requested her to sit down there,” Sahil informed the media, pointing to a chair close by.

#WATCH | Sahil Yadav, proprietor of Kashi Dhaba, the place UP Police discovered Sonam Raghuvanshi late final evening, says “Sonam got here right here round 1 AM. She needed my telephone to name her members of the family, and I gave it to her. She began crying when she referred to as her household. I took my telephone from her… pic.twitter.com/E9VGJ01OMs

— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2025

He added that he instantly referred to as the police. “She was on their lonesome when she got here. I’ve the variety of her household on my telephone.”

Sonam was taken to Sadar Hospital for a check-up and later shifted to a One Cease Centre for girls in misery.

The primary picture of Sonam since her disappearance surfaced on Monday, exhibiting her sporting a black T-shirt and observe pants. In accordance with Uttar Pradesh Police, she seemed “distraught with fever.”

UP Director Basic of Police Rajiv Krishna mentioned Sonam could be handed over to the Indore Police as soon as they arrive in Ghazipur. He clarified that UP Police wouldn’t query her.

Meghalaya Police claims ‘contract killing’

In the meantime, the story took a dramatic flip with Meghalaya Police accusing Sonam of planning her husband’s homicide.

“The arrested males have revealed that the spouse had employed them to kill Raghuvanshi,” mentioned Meghalaya’s Director Basic of Police, I Nongrang.

Sources informed CNN-News18 that Raj Kushwaha, who is claimed to have been in a relationship with Sonam Raghuvanshi, is believed to be the ‘mastermind’ behind Raja Raghuvanshi’s homicide.

Sources added that the potential cause for the killing was Sonam’s relationship with Raj Kushwaha, whom she had identified earlier than she received married.

In addition they mentioned Sonam could have booked the honeymoon journey as a part of the plan to have her husband killed.

Inspector Basic Dalton P Marak added that Sonam surrendered beneath stress and could be introduced again to Meghalaya. They mentioned that whereas three have been arrested, one of many accused continues to be absconding.

Earlier, Meghalaya CM Conrad Okay Sangma praised the police for making swift progress.

VIDEO | Indore Couple Case: Senior BJP legislator and Meghalaya Cupboard Minister AL Hek says, “Their entire household is blaming the police of Meghalaya. They’re blaming the federal government of Meghalaya, and notably, it’s very shameful responsible the folks of Meghalaya… They’ve… pic.twitter.com/VbwfpgSiJD

— Press Belief of India (@PTI_News) June 9, 2025

“Inside 7 days, a significant breakthrough has been achieved… 3 assailants who’re from Madhya Pradesh have been arrested, feminine has surrendered and operation nonetheless on to catch 1 extra assailant… nicely finished,” he posted on X.

Sonam’s household claims innocence, calls for CBI inquiry

Again in Indore, Sonam’s household is standing by her and demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case.

Her father, Devi Singh, rejected all allegations and accused the police of spinning a false narrative.

“My daughter reached the roadside eatery, and he or she was crying and referred to as from there. It was from the dhaba that the police picked her up. I haven’t spoken to my daughter but,” he informed PTI.

“The police are mendacity,” he claimed. “Why would my daughter do one thing like this? If she supposed to do one thing like this, why would she exit travelling?”

#WATCH | Indore lacking couple case | Sonam Raghuvanshi’s father, Devi Singh, says, “…My daughter is harmless. I’ve belief in my daughter. She can’t do that (kill her husband)… They received married with the consent of each households. The state (Meghalaya) Authorities has been… https://t.co/Gz7hbZUdXk pic.twitter.com/gCvJfwcQAU

— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2025

He alleged that Sonam was kidnapped and stays beneath risk. “The Meghalaya Police have cooked up this story halfway. My daughter is harmless,” he mentioned, urging Union House Minister Amit Shah to intervene.

Neighbours in Indore have been equally surprised as information of Sonam’s arrest unfold.

“I can’t imagine it, she was a well-behaved and educated lady,” one neighbour informed ANI. “The lady could also be concerned, however we are able to’t declare something. She was a pleasant, easy lady. We don’t suppose she would have finished it.”

VIDEO | Indore couple case: Here’s what Sonam Raghuvanshi’s neighbor says:
“I can not imagine it, she was a nicely behaved and educated lady. I do not know if she did it or not.
The lady could also be concerned, however we will not declare something. She was a pleasant, easy lady. We do not suppose she… pic.twitter.com/ME9lReUDg5

— Press Belief of India (@PTI_News) June 9, 2025

Because the investigation continues, extra particulars of the alleged plot — and what actually occurred on that distant path in Meghalaya — are more likely to emerge.

With enter from companies