(Image source from: Hindustantimes.com)
In a chilling murder scenario, the life of Raja Raghuvanshi, a businessman from Indore, was cut short after just five days of marriage, a rendezvous at a cafe, and a one-way honeymoon trip to Meghalaya. The alleged plot was orchestrated by his wife, Sonam, and her partner, Raj Kushwaha, who enlisted three of his friends as hired assassins.
Just five days following their wedding, Raj reached out to his childhood acquaintances—Anand Kumri (23), Akash Rajput (19), and Vishal Singh Chauhan (22)—inviting them to a cafe in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, to deliberate on the assassination of Raja. Reportedly, he enticed them with monetary incentives to carry out the deed. On May 20, Raja and Sonam departed for their honeymoon to Meghalaya, armed with a one-way fare while the trio of murderers trailed behind them to the Northeast. It has been reported that on the same day, Raj directed his friends to Guwahati, where they purchased an axe online. They subsequently moved to Shillong, checking into a hotel located near the couple's homestay.
The newly married pair spent three days exploring the stunning mountainous regions. However, on May 23, Sonam lured Raja to a secluded area under the pretense of a photoshoot. The three conspirators approached Raja and initially conversed with him in Hindi. Eventually, Sonam feigned exhaustion and lagged behind her husband and the assailants. Upon reaching an isolated spot, she allegedly yelled "kill him" to the attackers, according to sources. Interestingly, Sonam's lover Raj was absent during this, as he had not traveled to Meghalaya, yet he was reportedly orchestrating the plan from afar while maintaining communication with Sonam. What began as a search for the vanished couple evolved into a murder inquiry when Raja's body was discovered in a ravine on June 2, ten days after the heinous act. A machete, believed to be the weapon used in the crime, was also recovered. An initial autopsy indicated that Raja sustained two blows to his head.
Weeks later, the 24-year-old wife, who had been reported missing, was found unconscious at a roadside eatery in Ghazipur on a Saturday night. She was promptly taken to Ghazipur Medical College for medical attention, where she eventually confessed to the authorities and was arrested. The three accomplices were apprehended in simultaneous raids that night. Amitabh Yash, the Additional Director General of Police for Uttar Pradesh, disclosed several details about the case, including Sonam’s assertion that she had been "drugged and transported to Ghazipur" to portray herself as a victim. Mr. Yash explained, “Sonam presented herself as a victim before the police, claiming she was drugged. She notified her family, fully aware that law enforcement would trace her. Around 3 am on Monday, she communicated with her family from a dhaba on the Ghazipur-Varanasi road. Her family quickly alerted the Madhya Pradesh authorities, who coordinated with local police for Sonam's apprehension.”
He stated that Sonam is a "poor planner.""She did not understand police protocols and believed she could avoid capture by pretending to be a victim, but she was unsuccessful. The Meghalaya police have performed admirably and are now managing the case. We are ready to offer support if they request it," he remarked.
