Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the brutal murder of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, has been brought to Shillong under tight security and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. The accused is currently under a three-day transit remand with the Meghalaya Police.
The 20-day investigation into what police have termed ‘Operation Honeymoon’ reached a significant milestone as Raghuvanshi was transported from Uttar Pradesh to the Meghalaya capital through a carefully coordinated multi-state operation. After surrendering to police in Ghazipur on June 7, she was taken to Patna by road, then flown to Kolkata and subsequently to Guwahati.
From Guwahati airport, Raghuvanshi was discreetly escorted through the cargo gate and transported to the Sadar police station in Shillong, where she underwent a mandatory medical examination at Ganesh Das Hospital before spending the night in custody.
Four Co-Accused Also in Custody
Along with Raghuvanshi, four other accused individuals have been brought to the Meghalaya capital and will remain in custody until their court appearance. The co-accused include Raj Kushwaha, allegedly Sonam’s lover and the mastermind behind the murder, along with Anand Kurmi, Akash Rajput, and Vishal Singh Chauhan.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem confirmed the transit arrangements, stating that Meghalaya Police had obtained six days of transit remand for the accused arrested in Madhya Pradesh and three days for those arrested in Uttar Pradesh. “All accused are being brought to Shillong separately and will be produced in court,” Syiem said.
Public Outrage at Airport
The gravity of the case was evident when an incident of public outrage unfolded at Indore airport during the escort of the four accused. A passenger, visibly angry over the brutal nature of the crime, slapped one of the masked accused, though the identity of the individual who was attacked remains unknown.
Timeline of the Tragic Case
The shocking case began as what appeared to be a romantic honeymoon trip. Sonam and Raja had married on May 11, and just nine days later on May 20, the newlyweds departed for their honeymoon in Meghalaya with a one-way ticket. By May 23, the couple had mysteriously disappeared, prompting family members to alert authorities.
A comprehensive search operation was launched, but hopes for a positive outcome were shattered on June 4 when Raja’s body was discovered in a deep gorge in Sohra, near Cherrapunji. The discovery sent shockwaves across the country and triggered the intensive ‘Operation Honeymoon’ investigation.
Major Breakthrough in Investigation
The arrest of Sonam Raghuvanshi marked a major breakthrough in the case, which has captivated public attention due to its shocking circumstances. The Meghalaya Police had deployed a 20-member special operation team to track down the suspects involved in what authorities describe as a meticulously planned murder.
All five accused will now face further investigation and legal proceedings under the jurisdiction of the Meghalaya Police. The case has highlighted the darker aspects of what initially appeared to be a celebratory honeymoon trip, revealing an alleged conspiracy involving multiple individuals across state lines.
The investigation continues as authorities work to piece together the complete sequence of events that led to the tragic death of Raja Raghuvanshi and the elaborate plan that allegedly orchestrated his murder during what should have been the happiest time of his life.
