Nation

IIE DIGITAL DESK :   June 11, 2025 — What began as a seemingly romantic getaway for newlyweds turned into a cold-blooded, meticulously planned murder. Raja Raghuvanshi, a 27-year-old software engineer from Indore, was brutally killed during what was supposed to be the most memorable trip of his life — his honeymoon. Now, chilling details have emerged of a 9-hour long premeditated operation that unfolded in the quiet hills of Pachmarhi, and which involved deceit, betrayal, and precision.

Raja had married Sonam Raghuwanshi just three weeks before the incident. To close friends and family, the couple seemed happy, sharing joyful photos from their wedding and honeymoon. But beneath the surface, police now say, a deadly plot was taking shape — one allegedly orchestrated by Sonam herself, with the help of two accomplices linked to her past.

According to the investigation led by the Madhya Pradesh Crime Branch, Raja and Sonam had checked into a resort in Pachmarhi on the evening of May 28. Surveillance footage showed the couple enjoying dinner together that night, with no signs of conflict. But what unfolded the next day between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. would shock the conscience of the public.

Police say that during this time, Sonam lured Raja to a secluded forest area on the pretext of taking “Instagram-worthy” photos — something she had often done before. Unknown to Raja, two men, later identified as Ajay Parmar and Ritesh Verma, were lying in wait, having already scoped out the site earlier that week. The three suspects are believed to have conducted at least two rehearsals in the area prior to executing the final plan.

The attack was swift and brutal. Raja was reportedly hit from behind with a blunt object, believed to be an iron rod, and rendered unconscious. According to forensic reports, he was then tied up, dragged to a deeper part of the forest, and smothered to death. His body bore marks of restraint and injury consistent with a prolonged struggle.

Sonam then returned alone to the resort and calmly informed staff that her husband had "wandered off" and may have gone trekking on his own. It was only when Raja’s phone was found discarded in a nearby stream and he failed to return that the police were alerted. The search ended nearly 48 hours later when his decomposed body was discovered hidden beneath leaves and branches.

Investigators later found that Sonam had withdrawn a large sum of money from Raja’s account in the weeks leading up to the honeymoon and had reconnected with Ajay, an ex-boyfriend with a criminal record. The motive, police believe, was a mix of financial gain and a desire to free herself from the marriage, which she had reportedly entered under family pressure.

Sonam broke down during interrogation and confessed to orchestrating the murder. The accomplices were tracked down in a rented flat in Bhopal and arrested within days. All three are now in judicial custody and face charges including murder, conspiracy, and destruction of evidence.

The murder of Raja Raghuvanshi has left his family shattered. “He loved her deeply,” said his father, Arun Raghuvanshi. “He trusted her with his life, and she gave him death in return.”

As police prepare the final charge sheet, the case has stirred widespread public debate on the dangers of blind trust, manipulation in relationships, and the need for mental health screening in marriage disputes. For now, Raja’s tragic end serves as a sobering reminder of how love, when tainted by betrayal, can turn fatally dark.