Nation

IIE DIGITAL DESK : June 19, 2025 — The chilling honeymoon murder that had gripped the nation has finally been cracked open by Meghalaya Police, who have revealed that the mysterious “Sanjay Verma” — a name frequently found in the phone records of the main accused, Sonam Raghuvanshi — is none other than her secret lover, Raj Kushwaha.

This revelation has given a new and sinister dimension to the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, who was allegedly killed by his wife during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, barely two weeks after their wedding in Indore.

Investigators were baffled by the presence of a “Sanjay Verma” in Sonam's call logs — a man she spoke with over 230 times in a little over a month, both before and after her wedding. Initially presumed to be an outsider, police finally uncovered that the person she had saved as “Sanjay Verma” was actually Raj Kushwaha, who worked with her in her family’s business in Indore.

Police believe this alias was used deliberately to disguise her ongoing affair and frequent communication with Kushwaha.

Sonam married Raja Raghuvanshi on May 11 and went on a honeymoon to Meghalaya on May 20. But just three days later, Raja was reported missing near Sohra (Cherrapunji), and his body was found on June 2 near Wei Sawdong waterfalls. He had been stabbed multiple times with machetes, and the body was dumped off a cliff.

Investigations revealed that Sonam lured her husband into the remote tourist spot where hired killers were already waiting. When the time was right, she allegedly gave the signal, and Raja was brutally murdered. She then fled the scene and went into hiding.

Sonam was eventually traced and arrested from Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh. Following her interrogation, Raj Kushwaha and three others — allegedly the hired killers — were arrested from different parts of Madhya Pradesh. According to police, Kushwaha was the mastermind of the entire plot and had financially supported the operation, possibly under the promise of a future with Sonam.

During further interrogation, the police uncovered the depth of the affair between Sonam and Kushwaha. Call records, WhatsApp chats, and hidden contact names revealed a premeditated conspiracy that had been in motion well before the wedding took place.

Sonam's family claims to have had no knowledge of any such affair and maintain that “Sanjay Verma” was a name they never heard of. Her brother, Govind Raghuvanshi, told reporters that they were completely unaware of any relationship between his sister and Raj Kushwaha, let alone a murder conspiracy.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) has recreated the crime scene and continues to gather digital and forensic evidence to strengthen their case. A second machete, believed to have been used in the crime, was also recovered from a nearby forest trail.

Authorities are now probing whether financial motives were also at play, apart from the illicit affair, and are expected to file a detailed chargesheet soon.

The case, now widely known as the "honeymoon murder," has stunned the nation not just because of its brutality but due to the cold and calculated betrayal involved. A newlywed husband, excited about a fresh start, was murdered in cold blood, allegedly by the woman he had trusted most.

With all accused now in custody and key evidence recovered, the law is set to take its course — but the shadow of betrayal, deceit, and loss will haunt both families and the public for a long time to come.