Sonam Disliked Getting Physical With Husband, Told Lover Raj Kushwaha Before Murder

Indore woman Sonam Raghuvanshi, who is accused of plotting the murder of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi, had informed her boyfriend Raj Kushwaha that she disliked her husband's physical intimacy with her, India Today reported, citing sources.

Sonam, who allegedly conspired with her lover just three days after their wedding, confessed about emotionally distancing herself from her husband in her chats with her boyfriend.

A Honeymoon Turned Nightmare

What was supposed to be a romantic getaway for the newlyweds from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, quickly spiralled into a chilling crime. The case, now being probed by Meghalaya Police, reads like a real-life thriller.

Raja and Sonam tied the knot on May 11 and set off for their honeymoon on May 20. Initially planning a trip to Kashmir, they changed their destination to Meghalaya due to reports of terror attacks. On May 22, they arrived in Mawlakhiyat village on a rented scooter, trekked down over 3,000 steps to Nongriat village, and stayed overnight at a homestay to visit the famous 'living roots' bridges.

The next morning, around 6 a.m. on May 23, the couple checked out and left on their scooter for sightseeing-only to vanish without a trace.

Discovery of the Body and Evidence

Their abandoned scooter was found near a café on the Shillong-Sohra road on May 24, prompting a search operation hampered by heavy rains.

On June 2, Raja's badly decomposed body was discovered in a deep gorge near Wei Sawdong waterfall. Though his face was unrecognizable, a tattoo bearing his name confirmed his identity, according to a report in The Hindustan Times. The autopsy revealed he had been struck twice on the head with a sharp object, confirming foul play.

Meanwhile, Sonam remained missing until June 4, when police recovered crucial evidence at the scene-a white shirt, a medicine strip, a broken phone screen, and a smartwatch. A murder case was formally lodged.

Murder Plot Hatched Days After Marriage

Indore's Additional Commissioner of Police, Rajesh Dandotiya, disclosed that Raj Kushwaha, Sonam's 20-year-old lover, had orchestrated the murder on May 18-just seven days after the wedding. Kushwaha allegedly enlisted three accomplices-Vishal Chauhan, Anand Kumar, and Akash Rajput-to carry out the killing.

Sonam reportedly persuaded Raja to honeymoon in Meghalaya on May 19, and they departed the following day-a trip that ended in tragedy.