After detectives discovered a mangalsutra and a ring that his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, had left in a bag at a Sohra homestay, the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi during his honeymoon in Meghalaya was solved, according to Meghalaya Police.
In what turned out to be a terrifying case of contract killing, allegedly orchestrated by Sonam and her lover, the jewelry were the first important lead.
Sonam, 25, and Raja, 29, arrived in Meghalaya on May 20 for their honeymoon after getting married in Indore on May 11. Hours after leaving a homestay in Nongriat hamlet, the couple disappeared on May 23 near Sohra, East Khasi Hills.
Raja’s body was found in a valley close to Weisawdong Falls on June 2. On June 9, Sonam turned herself up in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, ending the search for her.
Along with three contract murderers who were reportedly recruited by Sonam to do the murder, police also detained her lover, Raj Kushwaha.
The discovery of a mangalsutra and a ring in the bag Sonam had left at the Sohra guesthouse marked a turning point in the case, according to Meghalaya Director General of Police (DGP) I Nongrang.
“A married woman leaving behind the ornaments gave us a clue to pursue her as a suspect in the case,” Nongrang stated.
The pair arrived at the Sohra homestay on May 22 without a reservation and were unable to find a room, according to a police official working the case.
They intended to hike more than 3,000 stairs to go to Nongriat village, which is well-known for its double-decker living root bridge, leaving their bags at the house.
The pair checked out early on May 23 after spending the night at a guesthouse in Nongriat. Following their hike back to Sohra, they picked up their scooter from a parking lot and headed in the direction of Weisawdong Falls.
This is where the three hired assassins are said to have killed Raja in front of Sonam.
Later, when climbing back from Nongriat to Sohra, a tour guide told authorities that he had spotted the couple with three guys who spoke Hindi. This information greatly facilitated the inquiry.
“All the accused have admitted to the crime, and with all the evidence gathered, there is no room for denial,” the law enforcement official stated.
All five of the accused have admitted to their roles in Raja’s murder, the police announced on Wednesday.
As the investigation into the horrific murder goes on, a Shillong court has since remanded Sonam, her partner Raj Kushwaha, and the three contract killers to eight days of police prison.
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