Shocking Developments in Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder Case: All Accused Presented in Court

Court Appearance of Honeymoon Murder Suspects

In a dramatic turn of events, all individuals implicated in the honeymoon murder case in Meghalaya, including the main suspect Sonam Raghuvanshi, were presented in a Shillong court on Wednesday. This occurred ten days after the discovery of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi's body.

A police spokesperson indicated that after fulfilling various medical and legal requirements, the five suspects were brought before the sessions court to request police custody for further questioning and investigation. Enhanced security measures were implemented around the Shillong court to ensure safety.

Sonam Raghuvanshi, aged 24, was transported to Shillong late Tuesday night, while the other four suspects—Raj Singh Khushwaha (21), who is alleged to be Sonam's lover and the mastermind, along with Anand Singh Kurmi (23), Akash Rajput (19), and Vishal Singh Chauhan (22)—arrived in the Meghalaya capital on Wednesday.

The police confirmed that all five suspects underwent medical examinations at hospitals in Shillong. Sonam is accused of orchestrating the murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi (29), during their honeymoon in the scenic Sohra-Cherrapunji region of East Khasi Hills. She had surrendered to authorities in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, on June 7, and was subsequently transported to Patna, then flown to Kolkata, and finally to Guwahati. From there, she was taken to the Sadar police station in Shillong late Tuesday night.

Vivek Syiem, the Superintendent of Police for East Khasi Hills, noted that the Meghalaya Police secured transit remands for the suspects apprehended in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Sonam and Raja had married on May 11, just nine days before embarking on their honeymoon in Meghalaya. The couple went missing on May 23, prompting an extensive search operation involving the Meghalaya Police, National Disaster Response Force, local residents, and other agencies.

Raja's body was discovered on June 2 in a deep gorge beneath the Wei Sawdong parking area at Riat Arliang in Sohra, shocking the nation and adding complexity to the case. In response, the Meghalaya Police established Special Investigation Teams and initiated 'Operation Honeymoon,' deploying several teams to Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, where they successfully apprehended the five suspects with the assistance of local law enforcement.

The five suspects will now undergo further investigation under the jurisdiction of the Meghalaya Police.

According to police reports, after allegedly committing the murder, Sonam and her accomplices fled Sohra and took a train to Indore from Guwahati, which is approximately 100 km from Shillong. Sonam rented accommodation in Indore before escaping to Uttar Pradesh, as per police statements.

Authorities suspect that Sonam and the others intended to escape to Nepal, having reached Ghazipur, which is about 200 km from the Nepal border. The murder was uncovered when locals discovered an abandoned motorcycle, which the couple had rented from Shillong, in Sohrarim village along the Shillong-Sohra route.

Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem previously mentioned that once all legal formalities are completed, the suspects would be taken to the crime scene for a reconstruction of the events.