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Shillong (Meghalaya) [India], June 9 (ANI): In a major breakthrough in the case of the missing honeymooning couple from Indore, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma announced that three assailants from Madhya Pradesh have been arrested, and a woman—Sonam, the wife of the deceased Raja Raghuvanshi—has surrendered. The police operation remains ongoing as authorities work to apprehend one more suspect.
In a post on social media platform X, Chief Minister Sangma stated, “Within 7 days, a breakthrough has been achieved by the #meghalayapolice in the Raja murder case. Three assailants from Madhya Pradesh have been arrested, a female has also surrendered, and the operation is still on to catch one more assailant.”
According to the Meghalaya Director General of Police (DGP), the woman who surrendered has been identified as Sonam Raghuvanshi. She is currently being housed at the Sakhi One Stop Centre, a shelter for women victims of violence in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. Sources report that she was found in a disheveled state. The Madhya Pradesh Police have been informed, and further details are awaited.
The family of Raja Raghuvanshi had demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe following the incident. On Sunday, Meghalaya Minister Alexander Laloo Hek reaffirmed the state’s commitment to justice in the case. Raja’s family had earlier written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting a CBI inquiry into the mysterious disappearance and murder.
Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi, both residents of Indore, had gone missing on May 23 during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. On June 2, Raja’s body was discovered in a gorge at Sohrarim near Cherrapunji. Sonam was initially considered missing, and a search was underway until her surrender was reported.
Speaking to ANI, Sonam’s mother, Sangeeta Raghuvanshi, expressed her anguish and urged the authorities to find her daughter swiftly. “We want the CBI inquiry to begin as soon as possible so that my daughter can come home safely,” she said. Raja’s brother, Vipul Raghuvanshi, added, “We want justice for Raja and support from the Prime Minister and Chief Minister. Only a CBI investigation can uncover the truth.”
Later in the day, Special Investigation Team (SIT) Chief and East Khasi Hills SP (City) Herbert Pyniaid Kharkongor confirmed that four individuals—Vishal Chauhan, Raj Kushwaha, Akash Rajput, and Sonam Raghuvanshi—had been arrested. The team is now pursuing the necessary transit remand to bring the accused to Shillong.
“Our team is about to reach Ghazipur to formally arrest Sonam and obtain her transit remand. The terrain and weather posed initial challenges, but we remained committed. The murder case was registered, and the investigation began promptly. All four arrested will be produced before the respective courts,” Kharkongor said.
He noted that patterns in the case suggested that Raja and Sonam had strained relations, but emphasized that further investigation was ongoing. Two teams had been sent the previous night—one to Uttar Pradesh and another to Madhya Pradesh—for coordinated arrests.
The Indore Police Crime Branch and Shillong Police conducted medical examinations of the three accused at the district hospital and planned to present them in court. Meghalaya Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh stated that Sonam arrived in Meghalaya accompanied by three “contract killers” and described her as the main accused. “She had surrendered to the UP police, and the crime weapon has been recovered,” he said.
According to a senior UP police official, Sonam was located near a dhaba on the Varanasi-Ghazipur main road.
Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong also addressed the media, lauding the relentless efforts of the Meghalaya Police. “Despite geographical and logistical challenges and media scrutiny, our teams worked round-the-clock with support from SDRF, NDRF, and local intelligence units,” he said at a press conference.
He confirmed that four people were arrested and that Sonam’s surrender brings the total number of accused to five. “All these days, accusations were leveled against the people and the government of Meghalaya. Now that arrests have been made, the facts will come to light,” he added.
Tynsong reassured the public that Meghalaya remains a safe state and urged people not to jump to conclusions without verified facts. “Our police force has performed exceptionally well. Even the CM barely slept during the investigation. We were determined to solve this case,” he said.
Raja Raghuvanshi’s tragic death and the unfolding revelations surrounding his wife’s alleged involvement have shocked the nation. The investigation continues, as authorities pursue justice in one of the most high-profile murder cases to emerge from Meghalaya in recent years.
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