Wife, 3 More Suspects Arrested After Husband's Honeymoon Murder

10.06.2025 15:32

A woman suspected of murdering her husband during their honeymoon has turned herself in to police, the BBC reported.

Authorities allege that Sonam Raghuvanshi, 25, hired professional hitmen to kill her husband, 30-year-old Raja Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon to the Indian state of Meghalaya. Sonam and Raja, who were wed on May 11 “in a ceremony blessed by both families,” chose Meghalaya as a honeymoon spot because of its “very beautiful valleys,” Raja's brother, Sachin Raghuvanshi, told the outlet.

"Their marriage was arranged four months back, and they were both happy and there had been no fights between the couple before or after marriage," Raja's second brother, Vipin Raghuvanshi, said.

On May 24, four days after they departed for their trip, Sonam and Raja were reported missing. A feverish search undertaken by officials came to an end one week after it began when officers discovered Sonam’s corpse at the bottom of a gorge. His throat had been slit, and he was missing his wallet, a chain, and a gold ring. Sonam remained missing until the morning of June 9, when she surrendered to authorities in the Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh. At this time, police have identified her as “the main suspect.”

In addition to Sonam, three more suspects—all of whom hail from the couple’s home state—were arrested Monday morning in surprise raids. "One person was picked up from Uttar Pradesh, and another two accused were apprehended from Indore. Sonam surrendered at the Nandganj police station and was subsequently arrested,” Director General of Meghalaya police Idashisha Nongrang explained.

Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem announced at a press conference later on Monday that a fourth suspect had been apprehended. When asked by a reporter "whether Sonam was in an extra-marital relationship with one of the arrested men,” Syeim responded, "If you join the dots, then it would seem like it.”

However, Sonam’s father, Devi Singh, painted a different picture of events while maintaining his daughter is “innocent.” He told ANI (via BBC) that Sonam “somehow managed to escape her captors” and ran to "a dhaba [roadside eatery] in Ghazipur…where she borrowed a mobile phone and called her brother, who then called the police.” Vipin Raghuvanshi told reporters he would "not accept Sonam's involvement in the murder until she confessed,” but later revealed that police told him one of the arrested men worked with Sonam. "Only Sonam can clarify," he said. "If she's guilty, she should be punished."

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma promised there would be a "major breakthrough" in the case within the next week.

This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.