What was meant to be the start of a fairytale marriage turned into a chilling crime story that has left an entire community stunned.
On May 20, businessman Raja Raghuvanshi arrived in a picturesque hill city with his new bride, Sonam Raghuvanshi, for what should have been the most romantic trip of their lives — their honeymoon. Friends and family believed the couple were beginning a new chapter together. Instead, within days, Raja would be dead.
According to investigators, the newlyweds checked into their hotel as planned, appearing every bit the happy couple. But behind the scenes, authorities now allege something far more sinister was unfolding.
Just days after their arrival, Raja disappeared.
When he failed to return calls and could not be reached, concern quickly turned into panic. Search efforts were launched, and the case initially appeared to be a missing persons mystery. Tragically, it soon escalated into something much darker.
Raja’s decomposing body was eventually discovered in a remote canyon area, far from tourist pathways. Disturbingly, he had been stripped of his identification and wedding ring. Officials believe he was killed between May 23 and 24 before being pushed into the gorge in an attempt to conceal the crime.
At first, suspicion reportedly fell on Raj Kushwaha — a man believed to have been romantically involved with Sonam. Investigators theorized that jealousy or a love triangle could have led to violence.
But as police dug deeper, the narrative took a dramatic turn.
Authorities now allege that Sonam herself orchestrated the murder.
According to police reports, Sonam had allegedly been maintaining a secret relationship with Kushwaha while newly married to Raja. Investigators claim she manipulated Kushwaha by promising a future together and convinced him that Raja needed to be “removed” from the picture.
The plot, police say, did not stop there.
Sonam is accused of recruiting three additional accomplices — Vishal Singh, Anand Kurmi, and Akash Rajput — allegedly offering financial rewards in exchange for carrying out the killing. Officials claim she tracked her husband’s location during the honeymoon, feeding real-time information to the group so they could intercept him.
Investigators believe Raja was ambushed during an outing before being pushed into the gorge.
In a further shocking twist, police allege that after the murder, Kushwaha returned to Indore expecting to reunite with Sonam and begin their life together — only to discover he, too, may have been deceived.
Authorities claim Sonam was secretly involved with yet another man and had allegedly begun plotting to eliminate Kushwaha as well.
If proven true, the case paints a disturbing picture of manipulation, betrayal, and calculated intent. What began as suspicions of a crime of passion has evolved into allegations of a meticulously planned conspiracy.
The revelations have left both families devastated and struggling to comprehend how a honeymoon could turn into a homicide investigation.
Police officials say digital evidence, call records, and location tracking data played a crucial role in piecing together the alleged timeline. Financial transactions are also reportedly being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.
All accused individuals remain under investigation, and formal charges are expected to proceed through the courts. Authorities have emphasized that the allegations are based on current findings and that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Meanwhile, Raja’s loved ones are left mourning a life that ended just days after he said his wedding vows.
What should have been a celebration of love instead became a case that has shocked the nation — a honeymoon that ended not with memories, but with a mystery that unraveled into a chilling alleged betrayal.
