Horrific Betrayal Unveiled: Wife Arrested for Orchestrating Husband's Murder During Honeymoon
Shillong, Meghalaya | June 9, 2025, 01:30 PM IST – In a chilling turn of events, a honeymoon trip to the picturesque hills of Meghalaya has ended in a gruesome murder, exposing a tale of cold-blooded betrayal. Sonam Raghuvanshi, a 28-year-old woman from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, has been arrested for allegedly orchestrating the brutal killing of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, during what was supposed to be a romantic getaway. The shocking revelation has sent shockwaves across the nation, raising serious questions about forced marriages and their deadly consequences.
The couple, married in an arranged ceremony on May 11, 2024, embarked on their honeymoon to Meghalaya on May 23, 2025. However, their trip took a sinister turn when both went missing. A massive search operation ensued, and on June 2, Raja’s mutilated body was discovered in a gorge near Weisawdong Falls, hacked to death with an axe. Initial theories speculated that Sonam might have been abducted, raped, or trafficked, with some pointing fingers at local Meghalaya residents. But the truth, uncovered through a relentless police investigation, proved far more disturbing.
Meghalaya Police, supported by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), revealed that Sonam had masterminded the murder. She allegedly lured Raja to a remote area where three hired accomplices, tracked from Madhya Pradesh, ambushed and killed him. To mislead investigators, the crime scene was staged to suggest Sonam had also been a victim. The plot unraveled when Sonam surrendered at a dhaba in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, on June 8, leading to her arrest along with the three accomplices. A fourth suspect remains at large.
Early police speculation points to a motive rooted in an unwilling arranged marriage. Sources suggest Sonam was in a pre-existing relationship and, forced into the union against her will, hatched a horrifying plan to eliminate her husband. The honeymoon, planned entirely by Sonam, served as the perfect trap. CCTV footage and GPS data from the couple’s scooty, corroborated by a local tourist guide’s testimony, further solidified the case against her.
The arrest has sparked outrage and disbelief online, with the story trending under #SonamRaghuvanshi on X. Users expressed horror at the betrayal, with one posting, “What a staggering act of betrayal,” while others criticized societal pressures, noting, “Forced marriages are a ticking time bomb.” Meghalaya’s tourism industry, previously unscathed by such incidents, now fears a backlash, with officials urging the public not to tarnish the state’s reputation.
Sonam’s father, Devi Singh, has vehemently denied the allegations, calling for a CBI probe and accusing Meghalaya Police of fabricating evidence. “My daughter is innocent. She cannot do this,” he told reporters, adding that she reached Ghazipur on her own. Raja’s family, however, demands justice, with posters at his funeral reading, “I did not die… I was killed.”
This case aligns with a disturbing national trend. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported 1,234 spousal murder cases in 2024, a 4.2% rise from the previous year, with love affairs and forced marriages emerging as significant triggers. A 2023 study in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence further links forced unions to heightened domestic homicide rates, underscoring the urgency for societal reform.
As investigations continue, Sonam is set to be brought back to Meghalaya for court proceedings. The nation watches in horror as this tragic saga unfolds, prompting renewed calls for stricter marriage laws and awareness campaigns to prevent such atrocities.
