A Shillong court has refused bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the main accused in the honeymoon murder of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi. Police say the killing was planned, and a 700+ page chargesheet has already been filed.
Meghalaya: In a major development in the Meghalaya honeymoon murder case, a court in Shillong has denied bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, who is the prime accused in the killing of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi, an Indore-based businessman.
The incident took place during the couple’s honeymoon trip to Meghalaya in May this year and has shocked people across the country due to its disturbing details and alleged planning behind the crime.
According to the Meghalaya Police, a detailed chargesheet running into more than 700 pages has already been filed before the court. The police claim that the murder was pre-planned by Sonam Raghuvanshi along with her alleged lover Raj Singh Kushwaha. The chargesheet also names three alleged contract killers identified as Akash Singh Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan and Anand Kurmi.
An Additional District Judge has already framed charges of murder against the accused, strengthening the prosecution’s case at this stage.
The case first came to public notice after the newly married couple went missing during their honeymoon. Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam Raghuvanshi had married on May 12 and travelled to Meghalaya soon after. On May 23, both of them went missing while staying in the state. They were last seen checking out of a homestay in Nongriat, a popular tourist location known for its living root bridges.
A few days after the couple disappeared, their rented scooter was found abandoned near Sohrarim, raising serious concerns about their safety. Despite search efforts, there was no immediate trace of either Raja or Sonam. On June 2, nearly ten days after they went missing, Raja Raghuvanshi’s body was recovered from a deep gorge near Weisawdong Falls in the East Khasi Hills. The discovery confirmed fears of foul play and turned the missing persons case into a murder investigation.
Sonam Raghuvanshi, who remained untraceable for several more days, was finally found on June 8 near a dhaba located on the Varanasi-Ghazipur main road. Her recovery led investigators to closely examine her role in the incident. Following questioning and collection of evidence, the Meghalaya Police stated that Sonam, along with 21-year-old Raj Kushwaha, was being treated as one of the prime suspects in the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi.
With the court now refusing bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the accused will continue to remain in judicial custody as the trial process moves forward. The case continues to draw widespread attention, highlighting serious concerns around trust, crime during travel, and the importance of thorough investigation in high-profile murder cases.
Explanatory Table: Laws & Sections Involved in the Case
| Law / Statute | Section | Description | Application in This Case |
| Indian Penal Code, 1860 | Section 302 | Punishment for murder | Applied for the alleged killing of Raja Raghuvanshi |
| Indian Penal Code, 1860 | Section 120B | Criminal conspiracy | Invoked for alleged pre-planned murder involving multiple accused |
| Indian Penal Code, 1860 | Section 34 | Common intention | Applied as the act was allegedly committed with shared intent |
| Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 | Section 437 / 439 | Bail provisions | Bail denied by the Shillong court to the prime accused |
| Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 | Section 173(2) | Filing of police chargesheet | 700+ page chargesheet filed by Meghalaya Police |
Case Summary
| Particular | Details |
| Case Title | State of Meghalaya vs Sonam Raghuvanshi & Ors |
| Accused | Sonam Raghuvanshi (Prime Accused), Raj Singh Kushwaha (Alleged Co-Conspirator), Akash Singh Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, Anand Kurmi |
| Deceased | Raja Raghuvanshi |
| Court | Court at Shillong, Meghalaya |
| Bench | Additional District Judge, Shillong |
| Stage of Case | Charges framed, bail rejected |
| Chargesheet | Filed (700+ pages) |
| Police Agency | Meghalaya Police |
| Date of Incident | May 2025 |
| Date of Body Recovery | 2 June 2025 |
| Date of Accused Recovery | 8 June 2025 |
| Current Status | Accused in judicial custody, trial pending |
Key Takeaways
- Marriage does not guarantee safety for men; even a honeymoon can turn into a fatal trap when trust is misused.
- This case exposes how men can become victims of extreme violence within marriage; a reality society often refuses to acknowledge.
- Premeditated crime inside a marital relationship proves that men also need legal and social protection, not blind assumptions of guilt or innocence based on gender.
- The incident highlights the urgent need for gender-neutral laws that recognise men as possible victims of domestic and matrimonial crimes.
- Justice for men starts with accepting the truth: crimes are committed by individuals, not genders, and the law must reflect this reality.
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