Shillong/Indore, May 2026 — In a dramatic development in the high-profile Meghalaya honeymoon murder case, Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the killing of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi, has been publicly disowned by her family. Her elder brother, Govind Raghuvanshi, announced the decision on April 30, 2026, just days after a Shillong court granted her bail.
“We have left Sonam to her own fate. Our family is clear that it would not keep Sonam at our home here,” Govind stated firmly. He added that the family had not appointed any lawyer for her defence, had no prior information about her bail application, and learned of the court’s decision only through media reports.
The Murder and Investigation
The case dates back to May 2025, when newlyweds Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi, both from Indore, were on their honeymoon in Meghalaya’s Sohra (Cherrapunjee) area. Raja, a transport businessman, went missing on May 23. His mutilated body was recovered on June 2 from a deep gorge near a waterfall in the East Khasi Hills district.
Meghalaya Police alleged that Sonam orchestrated the murder with the help of her alleged boyfriend, Raj Kushwaha, and hired accomplices. The motive, according to investigators, was linked to an extramarital affair and possible financial gains. Sonam was arrested after she surrendered in Uttar Pradesh, and she reportedly confessed to her involvement. Several co-accused, including the alleged contract killers, were also detained.
Bail and Legal Developments
After spending nearly ten months in judicial custody, Sonam was granted bail by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Judicial) D.R. Kharbteng on April 27–28, 2026. The court cited serious procedural lapses in her arrest, including the failure to properly communicate the grounds of arrest and a clerical error in the arrest memo that referenced a non-existent section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. She was released on a personal bond of ₹50,000 with conditions such as regular court appearances and restrictions on leaving the jurisdiction.
The Meghalaya government has since challenged the bail order in the High Court, with a hearing scheduled for May 12. Raja’s family has strongly opposed her release and continues to demand a CBI probe into the case.
Family’s Stance
Govind Raghuvanshi’s announcement marks a complete severance of ties. He had earlier visited Sonam in jail only for formalities and has expressed solidarity with Raja’s grieving family, apologising to them and supporting calls for justice. The family’s decision comes amid widespread public shock over the brutal nature of the crime, which gripped national attention last year.
Raja’s family, meanwhile, has voiced fears for their safety and reiterated demands for the strictest punishment for those involved.
The case remains under trial, with the disownment adding a deeply personal and emotional dimension to an already harrowing saga of betrayal and loss. Legal proceedings are expected to continue in the coming months.
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