New Delhi / Shillong:
In a chilling turn in the honeymoon murder case of 29-year-old Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, investigators have identified a new suspect, Sanjay Verma, who had 119 telephonic exchanges with Raja’s wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, within just 25 days before the murder. The call data records place Sanjay Verma at the center of a web of premeditated contact that raises fresh suspicions.
The Murder: A Planned Honeymoon Crime
On May 23, Raja was brutally murdered during a honeymoon trip in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills. He was attacked near the scenic Wei Sawdong Falls and thrown into a gorge. His decomposed body was discovered 10 days later, on June 2.
Key Developments:
- March 1–25: 119 phone calls between Sonam and Sanjay Verma.
- May 11: Couple married in Indore.
- May 21: They arrived in Shillong, checking into Balaji Guest House.
- May 22: The couple rented a scooty and headed to Sohra.
- May 23: Raja was last seen alive on a trek near Nongriat village.
- May 24: The rented scooty was found abandoned in Sohrarim.
- June 2: Raja’s body was recovered.
- June 7–8: Arrests made; Sonam later surrendered in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh.
Murder Plot and Conspiracy
Police have revealed that Raja was attacked with a machete (locally called a dao) by Vishal Singh Chauhan, one of three hired killers. Sonam was reportedly present and fled the scene during the assault, returning only after her husband had succumbed to his injuries.
The attackers — Vishal Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi — were allegedly hired by Raj Kushwaha, a 20-year-old accountant employed at Sonam’s family business. He is believed to be her boyfriend and the mastermind behind the crime.
Investigators assert that Sonam not only conspired to kill her husband but actively gave the go-ahead for the attack and helped in covering it up.
Murder Location and Crime Scene Reconstruction
The murder site was carefully chosen — a remote area near Wei Sawdong Falls — to avoid witnesses. During the reconstruction by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), all five accused were taken to key locations in Sohra and Nongriat to retrace their movements.
A second machete and a bloodstained white shirt — suspected to belong to Akash Rajput — were also recovered from the gorge where Raja’s body was dumped.
What Lies Ahead
With Sanjay Verma’s sudden emergence in the investigation, police are now widening the scope to understand his role. His mobile remains switched off, and authorities are actively searching for him.
The case continues to unravel layers of betrayal, premeditation, and brutality, painting a disturbing picture behind what was supposed to be a newlywed couple’s romantic getaway.