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{{short description|2025 murder of an Indian man by his wife in Meghalaya}}
{{Notability|date=June 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title =
| image =
| caption = Raja Raghuvanshi (right) and Sonam Raghuvanshi (left)
| date = 23 May 2025
| location = [[Sohra]], [[Cherrapunji]], [[Meghalaya]], [[India]]
| type = [[Missing person|Disappearance]], suspected [[homicide]]
| motive = Unknown
| inquiry = [[Meghalaya Police]], [[Special Investigation Team (India)|Special Investigation Team]] (SIT)
}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Raja Raghuvanshi
| birth_date = {{birth date text|1996}}
| birth_place = [[Indore]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]]
| death_date = 23 May 2025 (aged 28—29)
| death_place = [[Cherrapunji|Sohra]], [[Meghalaya]], [[India]]
| known_for = Victim in the Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi case
| mother = Uma Raghuvanshi
| father = Ashok Raghuvanshi
}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sonam Raghuvanshi
| image = 
| caption =
| birth_date = 2000
| birth_place = [[Indore]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]]
| status = Arrested (June 2025), accused of orchestrating husband’s murder
| known_for = Central figure in the Murder of Raja Raghuvanshi
| criminal_charges = Alleged hiring of contract killers; murder conspiracy
}}

On 23 May 2025''', Raja Raghuvanshi''' (29) and '''Sonam Raghuvanshi''' (25), a married Indian couple from [[Indore]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], disappeared while on their honeymoon in [[Meghalaya]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Family Of Indore Woman, Who Went Missing In Meghalaya During Honeymoon, Demands CBI Probe |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/family-of-indore-woman-who-went-missing-in-meghalaya-during-honeymoon-demands-cbi-probe-8605611 |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}</ref> The couple was last seen on the same day, hours after checking out of a homestay at [[Nongriat]] village in [[Cherrapunji]] (Sohra).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Honeymoon, Murder, Frantic Search: Timeline Of Indore Couple's Meghalaya Visit |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/tracing-the-trail-of-indore-couple-before-they-went-missing-in-meghalaya-during-honeymoon-8612603 |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}</ref> On 2 June 2025, Raja’s decomposed body was discovered in a deep gorge beneath the [[Wei Sawdong Falls]] in Sohra.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-06-03 |title=Indore family seeks CBI probe into death at Sohra, suspects foul play |url=https://meghalayatimes.in/indore-man-death-weisawdong-meghalaya-cbi-probe/ |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=Meghalaya Times |language=en-US}}</ref> His death has been treated as a suspected homicide and a [[Special Investigation Team (India)|Special Investigation Team]] was formed<ref>{{Cite web |title=राजा रघुवंशी हत्याकांड मामले की SIT जांच शुरू, स्वजनों ने सोनम को अगवा कर बांग्लादेश भेजने का जताया शक - Raja Raghuvanshi Murder Case SIT Investigates Family Suspects Trafficking |url=https://www.jagran.com/madhya-pradesh/indore-raja-raghuvanshi-murder-case-sit-investigates-family-suspects-trafficking-23957016.html |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}</ref> by [[Meghalaya Police|Meghalaya police]] to probe the case.<ref>{{Cite web |title='We Suspect Kidnapping': Family Of Indore Woman Missing In Meghalaya During Honeymoon |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/we-suspect-kidnapping-family-of-indore-woman-sonam-raghuvanshi-missing-in-meghalaya-during-honeymoon-8602466 |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}</ref> Initially treated as a suspected accident or abduction, the case took a dramatic turn when Sonam was arrested on charges of orchestrating her husband's murder.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Honeymoon Murder: Wife "Surrendered Under Pressure", Cops To Bring Her Back To Meghalaya |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indore-couple-sonam-raghuvanshi-meghalaya-honeymoon-murder-wife-surrendered-under-pressure-cops-to-bring-her-back-to-meghalaya-8622032 |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}</ref> According to the [[Meghalaya Police]], Sonam allegedly hired contract killers and plotted Raja’s murder during the trip.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-09 |title=Twist in Indore man's murder during Meghalaya honeymoon; police say wife Sonam hired killers, arrested |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/indore-honeymoon-couple-meghalaya-wife-hired-killers-arrest-police-10055775/ |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> The investigation is ongoing and has sparked widespread media coverage and public debate.

== Background ==
Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi were married on 11 May 2025 and left [[Indore]] for [[Meghalaya]] on 20 May to begin their honeymoon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Family Of Indore Woman, Who Went Missing In Meghalaya During Honeymoon, Demands CBI Probe |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/family-of-indore-woman-who-went-missing-in-meghalaya-during-honeymoon-demands-cbi-probe-8605611 |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}</ref> On 22 May, the couple arrived at Mawlakhiat village near [[Cherrapunji]] (Sohra) and trekked about 3,000 steps down to the famous double-decker living root bridge at [[Nongriat]], where they stayed overnight. The next morning (23 May), they checked out of the homestay and began to return toward Mawlakhiat. No further in-person sightings of the couple were reported after they left Nongriat, and all contact was lost later on 23 May.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meghalaya Honeymoon Tragedy: Timeline of Indore Couple's Murder and Disappearance |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/meghalaya/husband-found-dead-wife-still-missing-timeline-of-tragedy-that-befell-indore-couple-on-their-honeymoon-3574191 |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

== Disappearance ==
On 23 May 2025, Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi failed to arrive at their next destination and went missing. Their family filed a missing persons report on 23 May after failing to establish contact. Phone records indicate that Sonam made a final call to her mother around 1:43 PM on 23 May; both phones were switched off after that call.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indore's Newlywed Couple Disappears Mysteriously During Honeymoon In Shillong; Rented Scooter Found Abandoned In Osra Hill |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/indore/indores-newlywed-couple-disappears-mysteriously-during-honeymoon-in-shillong-rented-scooter-found-abandoned-in-osra-hill |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}}</ref> The following day (24 May), the couple’s rented scooter was found abandoned at a roadside café on the [[Shillong]]–[[Sohra]] road. Search efforts by family and local authorities began immediately, but no trace of the couple was found that day.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-06-04 |title=Honeymooner hacked to death in Meghalaya: How wife Sonam's last call to mom-in-law hinted at danger before couple vanished |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/indore/honeymooner-hacked-to-death-in-meghalaya-how-wife-sonams-last-call-to-mom-in-law-hinted-at-danger-before-couple-vanished/articleshow/121612060.cms |access-date=2025-06-08 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

== Discovery of Raja Raghuvanshi's body ==
Search operations continued into early June 2025. On 2 June, a [[National Disaster Response Force]] (NDRF) drone spotted Raja Raghuvanshi’s body at the base of a gorge under the [[Wei Sawdong Falls]] in Sohra.<ref>{{cite web | last=Bhattacharjee | first=Saptadeepa | title=NDRF joins agencies in search for Indore woman missing in Meghalaya, days after husband's body found | website=India TV News | date=2025-06-06 | url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/north-east/meghalaya/ndrf-joins-agencies-in-search-for-indore-woman-missing-meghalaya-days-after-husband-s-body-found-2025-06-06-993534 | access-date=2025-06-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-06 |title=Rescuers rappel deep into Meghalaya gorge in search of missing Indore bride; stained raincoat, CCTV footage provide new clues |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rescuers-rappel-deep-into-meghalaya-gorge-in-search-of-missing-indore-bride-stained-raincoat-cctv-footage-provide-new-clues-10050965/ |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> The body was badly decomposed; Raja’s brother identified him by a tattoo on his right hand.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Raincoat With Stains Found In Search For Missing Indore Woman In Meghalaya |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/raincoat-with-stains-found-in-search-for-missing-indore-woman-in-meghalaya-8589112 |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}</ref> The [[East Khasi Hills district]] police confirmed that Raja’s body had been recovered<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-02 |title=शिलांग में लापता दंपति में से पति राजा रघुवंशी का शव मिला, सोनम की तलाश जारी {{!}} Raja Raghuvanshi dead body found among couple who had gone to visit Shillong from indore |url=https://www.patrika.com/indore-news/raja-raghuvanshi-dead-body-found-among-couple-who-had-gone-to-visit-shillong-from-indore-19641161 |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=Patrika News |language=hi}}</ref> and registered a murder case in the incident. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was established to investigate the circumstances of his death. Police noted that Sonam’s whereabouts remained unknown and the search for her was ongoing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Body Of Indore Man, On Honeymoon In Meghalaya, Found, Wife Still Missing |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/body-of-indore-man-who-was-missing-with-wife-in-meghalaya-found-8569624 |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Investigation and search ==
Police investigators found several personal effects at the site where Raja’s body was recovered, including a woman’s white shirt, a strip of medicine blister pack, part of a mobile phone screen, and a smartwatch. Officers later announced that they had recovered a bloodstained weapon believed to have been used in the killing, and a black raincoat was found in nearby [[East Khasi Hills district|Mawkma]] village.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-06-02 |title=Missing Indore man's body recovered from gorge in Meghalaya; search for wife on hhj |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/missing-indore-mans-body-recovered-from-gorge-in-meghalaya-search-for-wife-on/article69649877.ece |access-date=2025-06-08 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The raincoat bore wet stains, but Superintendent Vivek Syiem said it was too early to tell if they were blood; forensic tests were needed to determine their nature.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sharma |first1=Sheenu |date=2025-06-05 |title=Raja Raghuvanshi death case: Meghalaya Police recovers black raincoat amid ongoing search for Sonam |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/missing-indore-couple-case-meghalaya-police-recovers-black-raincoat-amid-ongoing-search-for-tourist-sonam-raghuvanshi-in-shillong-2025-06-05-993432 |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=India TV News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-06-04 |title=Meghalaya police confirm tourist from Indore was murdered; wife still missing |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/meghalaya/meghalaya-police-confirm-tourist-from-indore-was-murdered-wife-still-missing/article69657418.ece |access-date=2025-06-08 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The search operation faced difficult conditions: NDRF teams deployed ropes and rappelling gear at the [[Wei Sawdong Falls|Wei Sawdong]] viewpoint to reach the gorge, but poor visibility and slippery terrain forced them to suspend the descent multiple times. Despite these challenges, teams recovered new evidence and reviewed CCTV footage to trace the couple’s last movements. Raja’s family has publicly questioned the circumstances of his death. His brother Vipin Raghuvanshi demanded that the case be handed over to the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI), alleging that foul play had not been adequately investigated.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indore Couple Missing Case: इंदौर कपल केस में नया मोड़, अब CBI करेगी मामले की जांच? |url=https://www.amarujala.com/video/india-news/will-cbi-now-investigate-indore-couple-missing-case-raja-raghuvanshi-sonam-case-2025-06-07 |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}}</ref> Family members noted that Raja and Sonam had been wearing gold jewelry (rings, chain, bracelet, etc.) that were missing when Raja’s body was found, suggesting the possibility of theft and murder. Sonam’s relatives have urged authorities not to give up hope of finding her alive; Sonam’s brother Govind Raghuvanshi stated that he believed she was still in captivity and called for intensified search efforts and a CBI probe. [[Chief Minister of Meghalaya]], [[Conrad Sangma]] expressed shock at the incident and assured the public that the state government was fully supporting the police investigation. On 6 June 2025, a local guide claimed to have seen Raja and Sonam with three unidentified men near the [[Wei Sawdong Falls|Wei Sawdong]] viewpoint on 23 May, the day of their disappearance.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 June 2025 |title=Meghalaya: Indore couple were seen with 3 men on day of disappearance, guide reveals |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/meghalaya-indore-couple-were-seen-with-3-men-on-day-of-disappearance-guide-reveals-101749306545271.html |work=[[The Hindustan Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | agency=Press Trust of India | title=Indore couple were seen with 3 men on day they went missing in Meghalaya: Guide | website=India Today | date=2025-06-07 | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indore-couple-sighted-three-tourists-meghalaya-trekking-guide-missing-shillong-2737389-2025-06-07 | access-date=2025-06-08}}</ref>

== Discovery of Sonam Raghuvanshi ==
On 9 June 2025, the Meghalaya Police arrested Sonam Raghuvanshi, the wife of the deceased Raja Raghuvanshi, on charges of conspiracy to murder.<ref>{{Cite news | date=9 June 2025 |title=Who is Sonam Raghuvanshi, accused of plotting her husband's murder during their honeymoon in Meghalaya? |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/who-is-sonam-raghuvanshi-accused-of-plotting-her-husband-s-murder-during-their-honeymoon-in-meghalaya-101749439472310.html |work=[[The Hindustan Times]]}}</ref> Authorities alleged that Sonam orchestrated her husband's killing by hiring three contract killers during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. Investigations revealed that one of the alleged conspirators, Raj Singh Kushwaha, was reportedly Sonam's lover and worked at her brother’s firm in Madhya Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-06-09 |title=Meghalaya honeymoon horror: Sonam's 'lover' worked in brother's firm; cops dig deeper into Raja Raghuvanshi's murder |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/meghalaya-honeymoon-horror-sonams-lover-worked-in-brothers-firm-cops-dig-deeper-into-raja-raghuvanshis-murder/articleshow/121721996.cms |access-date=2025-06-09 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> The police recovered CCTV footage, mobile records, and witness accounts, including that of a local guide who claimed to have seen the couple accompanied by three unidentified men shortly before Raja’s disappearance. Sonam was apprehended in [[Ghazipur]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], after remaining missing for over two weeks, and was later transferred to Meghalaya for custodial interrogation. The case attracted national media attention, prompting responses from both families: Raja’s mother demanded capital punishment for those involved, while Sonam’s father rejected the police’s narrative and called for a CBI investigation. Four individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, while a fifth suspect remains at large.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-09 |title=Sonam Raghuvanshi: Missing Indian bride arrested for allegedly murdering husband on honeymoon |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgn50p90epo |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |publisher=Livemint Media House |date=9 June 2025 |title='Hang her if…': Indore couple's family denies Sonam Raghuvanshi killed husband Raja |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/indore-honeymoon-couple-family-hang-her-if-denies-sonam-raghuvanshi-killed-husband-raja-11749451120633.html |work=[[Livemint]]}}</ref>

==Reaction==
[[Chum Darang]] commented on Raja's murder and how Northeast Indians faced discrimination.<ref>{{cite web |title=What A Murder Tells Us About India's Hypocritical Treatment of Its Northeast |url=https://thewire.in/rights/what-a-murder-tells-us-about-indias-hypocritical-treatment-of-its-northeast |website=The Wire |access-date=11 June 2025 |language=en-in}}</ref>

The case was featured in an episode of the 2026 [[ZEE5]] true crime series ''[[Honeymoon Se Hatya]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-07 |title=Meghalaya murder case to feature in crime docu-series 'Honeymoon Se Hatya' |url=https://www.indiatodayne.in/meghalaya/story/meghalaya-murder-case-to-feature-in-crime-docu-series-honeymoon-se-hatya-1327759-2026-01-07 |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=India Today NE |language=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2026-01-06 |title='Honeymoon Se Hatya': What turns love into murder? Crime docu-series streams from THIS date |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/hindi/honeymoon-se-hatya-what-turns-love-into-murder-crime-docu-series-streams-from-this-date/articleshow/126374464.cms |access-date=2026-02-18 |work=[[Times of India]] |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Men's rights movement in India]]
*[[Murder of Anni Dewani]]

== References ==
<references>
{{cite news |last=Choudhury |first=Ratnadip |date=6 June 2025 |title='We Suspect Kidnapping': Family Of Indore Woman Sonam Raghuvanshi Missing In Meghalaya During Honeymoon |work=NDTV |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/we-suspect-kidnapping-family-of-indore-woman-sonam-raghuvanshi-missing-in-meghalaya-during-honeymoon-8602466 }}
{{cite news |last=Choudhury |first=Ratnadip |date=4 June 2025 |title=Raincoat With Stains Found In Search For Missing Indore Woman In Meghalaya |work=NDTV |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/raincoat-with-stains-found-in-search-for-missing-indore-woman-in-meghalaya-8589112 }}
{{cite news |last=Staff Reporter |title=Indore family seeks CBI probe into death at Sohra, suspects foul play |publisher=Meghalaya Times |date=3 June 2025 |url=https://meghalayatimes.in/indore-man-death-weisawdong-meghalaya-cbi-probe/ }}
{{cite news |last=Mohan |first=Anand |date=6 June 2025 |title=Rescuers rappel deep into Meghalaya gorge in search of missing Indore bride; stained raincoat, CCTV footage provide new clues |work=The Indian Express |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rescuers-rappel-deep-into-meghalaya-gorge-in-search-of-missing-indore-bride-stained-raincoat-cctv-footage-provide-new-clues-10050965/ }}
{{cite news |last= |first= |date=6 June 2025 |title=Family Of Indore Woman, Who Went Missing In Meghalaya During Honeymoon, Demands CBI Probe |publisher=NDTV |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/family-of-indore-woman-who-went-missing-in-meghalaya-during-honeymoon-demands-cbi-probe-8605611 }}
{{cite news |first=Vivek | last = Syiem |date=6 June 2025 |title=Search For Missing Bride Hampered by Terrrain |work=The Indian Express |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rescuers-rappel-deep-into-meghalaya-gorge-in-search-of-missing-indore-bride-stained-raincoat-cctv-footage-provide-new-clues-10050965/ }}
</references>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raghuvanshi, Raja, Murder of}}
[[Category:2020s crimes in India]]
[[Category:2020s in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:2025 in women's history]]
[[Category:2025 murders in India]]
[[Category:Controversies in India]]
[[Category:Crime in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Deaths by person in India]]
[[Category:June 2025 in India]]
[[Category:Discrimination in India]]
[[Category:History of women in India]]
[[Category:People from Indore]]
[[Category:Violence against men in India]]
[[Category:2025 controversies]]
[[Category:2025 crimes in India]]

Murder of Raja Raghuvanshi - Revision history

Aamir2580: created a stub more to come