“‘Kidnapped, Didn’t Murder Raja Raghuvanshi’—Sonam Raghuvanshi’s Claim to Authorities in Meghalaya Case”

Sonam Raghuvanshi, a 24-year-old resident of Indore, was arrested on Monday at Kashi Dhaba along the Varanasi-Ghazipur main road, after being accused of orchestrating the murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon. The arrest took place following a manhunt that spanned three states, according to Ghazipur Superintendent of Police Iraz Raja.

Raghuvanshi was initially taken to Sadar Hospital for treatment before being placed in a one-stop centre in Ghazipur, a facility that provides assistance to women in distress. Staff at the centre said Sonam denied the murder accusations, claiming that she had been kidnapped. “After waking up later in the afternoon, she said she was kidnapped and did not kill anyone,” a staffer said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Her family is standing by her. “My daughter is innocent. She could never do something like this. Their marriage was consensual. She came to Ghazipur last night and called her brother. The police found her at the dhaba and arrested her,” said her father, Devi Singh Raghuvanshi.

However, police in Meghalaya have stated that Sonam orchestrated the murder of her husband in the scenic town of Sohra, in East Khasi Hills. The crime, which led to a massive search, was allegedly carried out by men hired by Sonam. Raja Raghuvanshi was found dead on June 2, in a gorge near Weisawdong Falls, 10 days after the couple had gone missing.

The couple, who married on May 11, traveled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon and vanished on May 23, hours after checking out of a homestay in Nongriat village, about 20 km from where Raja’s body was later discovered. The body was identified by a distinctive tattoo on Raja’s right hand, and several personal items, including a woman’s white shirt, a strip of medicine, and a mobile phone LCD screen, were recovered from the crime scene.

Police arrested three individuals in connection with the murder—Raj Singh Kushwaha (21), Akash Rajput (19), and Vishal Singh Chauhan (22)—who were later transferred to Meghalaya on a seven-day transit remand. The suspects were captured in overnight raids in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Sonam Raghuvanshi was taken into custody by Meghalaya Police at around 6:30 p.m. and is currently undergoing legal processes for her transfer to the northeastern state.