The murder of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, allegedly orchestrated by his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi and her boyfriend Raj Kushwaha during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, continues to shock the nation. As the probe progresses, reports point at the complex layers of ‘Operation Honeymoon’, the investigation launched by Meghalaya Police to crack the sensational case.
How Sonam Escaped After the Murder
According to police sources, Sonam and Raj Kushwaha plotted the murder just days after her wedding with Raja on May 11. The couple travelled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon on May 20, while three alleged accomplices — Akash, Anand, and Vikash — arrived in Guwahati on May 21 and followed them to Shillong by May 22.
On May 23, Raja and Sonam were last seen checking out of Shipara Homestay in Nongriat village. It was the same day they went untraceable — and, as it turns out, the same day Raja was allegedly murdered on a deserted road under Sonam’s direction.
The three accused later claimed that Sonam was present at the time of the killing and had clearly instructed them to execute Raja.
Following the murder, Sonam reportedly regrouped with the killers 11 km away from the crime scene, while Raj stayed back in Madhya Pradesh. She then travelled to Guwahati, boarded a train to Indore, and arrived on May 25, where she met Raj. He had arranged a rented room for her, while he checked into a nearby hotel.
ALSO READ: Not contract killers but friends of Sonam Raghuvanshi’s lover: The 3 who killed Raja Raghuvanshi
They later organised a car, which took her to Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, where she surrendered on June 8, reportedly distressed and with a fever.
Inside ‘Operation Honeymoon’: Police Surveillance and Key Clues
To unravel the murder mystery, Meghalaya Police formed a 20-member core team, part of a 120-member force dedicated to the case under ‘Operation Honeymoon’. On June 7, the team conducted raids at various locations linked to the suspects and analysed 42 surveillance footage clips from Indore that showed the trio staying near Sonam’s residence.
One major breakthrough came when the police discovered that the couple had purchased a machete outside their Guwahati hotel — likely the murder weapon found near Raja’s body at the bottom of a gorge.
ALSO READ: Honeymoon murder: Sonam didn’t like husband getting intimate, had texted lover
Adding to the suspicion was the absence of honeymoon photos — no selfies, no social media posts. But what truly raised alarms was a chilling post from Raja’s account at 2:15 pm on May 23, stating, “our union is for seven lives.” Investigators believe Sonam used his account to publish the post, which only deepened the mystery and solidified her as a suspect.
Further forensic evidence included Akash’s blood-soaked shirt found at the crime scene and a raincoat belonging to Sonam discovered 6 km away, allegedly planted to mislead the investigation.
The unfolding details of Operation Honeymoon paint a disturbing picture of premeditation, betrayal, and calculated murder — a case that is as chilling as it is complex. As the investigation continues, authorities hope to bring all culprits to justice in what has become one of India’s most gripping true crime cases in recent memory.
