The air was still warm with memories of wedding songs when Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam tied the knot in Indore on May 11, 2025. Raja, a 30-year-old transport businessman, had found love in Sonam, 24, and the young couple was glowing with the promise of a new beginning. The decision to honeymoon in Meghalaya — often described as “God’s Own Garden” — was meant to be a romantic getaway, a soothing pause before life’s responsibilities returned.

They departed for Meghalaya on May 20 and reached Shillong, the state capital, by May 22. That night, CCTV footage captured them walking into their hotel, hand-in-hand, their faces lit with joy and anticipation. This would be the last time they were seen together alive. The “grainy visuals, captured by a CCTV camera at the Shillong hotel where the couple stayed, show Raja and his newly married wife Sonam checking in on May 22.” What no one knew then was that the image would soon become evidence in a murder investigation that would shake Meghalaya to its core.

According to police reports, the couple planned a hike on May 23. That afternoon, Sonam called her family, speaking cheerfully from the hills. It was a short conversation, but it came with smiles and no signs of alarm. “On the afternoon of May 23, Sonam (24) phoned her family from the hills as the two embarked on a jungle hike.” That would be the last anyone heard from them. Both their phones went dark shortly afterward.

The next day, their rented scooter was discovered abandoned near Sohrarim, close to the famous Double Decker Living Root Bridge in the East Khasi Hills. “The scooter they had used was found abandoned the next day at Sohrarim (near Double Decker Viewpoint in East Khasi Hills), 25 km from where Raja’s body would later be discovered.” By this point, concern turned to panic. The couple’s families flew from Indore to Shillong and filed missing persons reports. The Meghalaya police, along with local volunteers, initiated a search that sprawled across the rough terrain.

The region around Cherrapunji, known locally as Sohra, is stunning but perilous. The land is carved by deep gorges, high waterfalls, and dense, mossy forests. The monsoon had already begun to sweep in, making conditions worse. “The terrain around Cherrapunjee (Sohra) is treacherous: steep ravines, dense forest and relentless rain.” One police official described the main gorge at Wei Sawdong waterfall as “almost completely inaccessible”, explaining how the rocks were slippery and overgrown, and the rain hampered drone surveillance. Even trained rappellers could only descend 200 feet before mist and vegetation cut off visibility.

As days passed, the silence around Sonam’s whereabouts became deafening. Meanwhile, the couple’s luggage was recovered — but the woman was still missing. The search, aided by high-end drones and tracker dogs, turned desperate.

Then, on June 2, a break came — and it was grim. A drone picked up what looked like a human body, partially buried under leaves and plastic waste near Wei Sawdong Falls. The police rappelled down and confirmed the worst fears. Raja’s decomposed body lay discarded in a gorge, left to rot in the wilderness.

“It is a clear case of homicide. The person was murdered, there is no doubt about that,” said Vivek Syiem, the Superintendent of Police of East Khasi Hills, confirming what Raja’s family had already feared. The recovery site sent a chill down the spine — not only because of its eerie isolation but also because of what was found beside the body.

A newly bought ‘dao’ — a broad, sharp machete often used for clearing jungle paths — lay hidden in tall grass. “We have recovered a ‘dao’. It was new, and used for this purpose only,” SP Syiem said. Police believe this was the murder weapon. A blood-stained raincoat was also discovered nearby, and though it hasn’t been confirmed, officials suspect it may belong to Sonam. Raja’s phone was also recovered, further confirming the identity of the victim and linking the crime to the couple’s disappearance.

“A patrol dog and more drones helped locate Raja’s mobile phone and the blood-stained machete believed to have killed him. Nearby, searchers also found a discarded black raincoat with suspicious stains.” Forensic tests were immediately commissioned to determine whether the stains on the coat were blood — and if so, whether it was Sonam’s.

Officials later confirmed that the couple had been staying at a guest house in Nongriat village, a popular spot among trekkers. But after nine long days, only Raja’s remains had been found. “Raja's body was found on June 2 – more than a week after the couple went missing – in a deep gorge near a waterfall in Sohra area of East Khasi Hills district.”

What had begun as a honeymoon had now turned into a national headline — a chilling tale of a young couple’s mysterious disappearance, a murder, and a woman still lost in the wild or worse. And as more chilling details emerge, the finger now points toward the silence of the system — the delay in action, the failure to track them sooner, and the haunting question: Could Sonam have been saved?

A City in Mourning, a Nation in Shock — Rage and Rituals in Indore After Raja’s Funeral

The morning of June 4 broke with a heaviness over Indore that words could not carry. Instead of garlands and laughter welcoming the couple back from their honeymoon, an ambulance returned — carrying only Raja’s lifeless body. The home that had echoed with wedding songs just weeks ago was now steeped in wails. “The Raghuvanshi family had been expecting the couple home but instead received Raja’s body. When the ambulance carrying Raja’s body pulled into their neighborhood, the groom’s father collapsed in grief.”

Grief quickly turned into protest. Neighbors, relatives, friends, and even strangers gathered, some silently weeping, others holding banners aloft. Outside the family home, mourners unfurled a large banner displaying Raja and Sonam’s wedding photos under the words “I did not die… I was killed. Let the CBI investigate,” demanding not just answers — but justice. “Posters reading ‘I did not die, I was killed’ hung on the compound walls. The crowd chanted for answers: ‘They murdered him!’ and ‘Bring back Sonam alive!’”

At Raja’s funeral, his elder brother Vipin Raghuvanshi stood amid the crowd, struggling to maintain composure. His words, though trembling, echoed through the hush. “My brother’s body was found around 25 km from his scooter,” he said. “He was kidnapped and taken to this area. We want the CBI to investigate the case.” The family had already submitted a formal written plea for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe. They no longer had faith in the silence of the state.

And why would they? With Raja dead and Sonam still missing, the family feared this was not just a tragic misstep in the forest — but something far more sinister. “I fear Sonam will not be found there anymore – she has been abducted and disappeared,” said Govind Raghuvanshi, Sonam’s brother. In a desperate spiritual gesture, the family hung Sonam’s photo upside down at home — an old belief meant to summon the return of someone who is lost. “My sister is alive. She has been abducted,” Govind later said, pleading with Meghalaya’s authorities “to stop looking for a dead body” and instead assume Sonam was being held somewhere.

The grief was not contained to the family. All of Indore seemed to pause. Colleagues from Raja’s department, college friends, and even people from nearby towns joined the procession. Shiv Puja ceremonies were hastily organized in multiple temples. Social media lit up with pleas, hashtags, and photos of the couple under captions like “Justice for Raja and Sonam.” Local leaders stepped in — even former Union Minister Suresh Angadi mentioned the incident in Parliament, and city councilors from Indore demanded both Meghalaya and Madhya Pradesh governments act swiftly.

In every alley of Indore, posters of Sonam stared back with the haunting question: “Where is our daughter?” Friends lit candles, burned incense, and wrote “Justice for Raja and Sonam” in chalk outside the Raghuvanshi residence. In every conversation, a sense of betrayal brewed. Why had authorities not acted quicker? Could Raja have been saved? Could Sonam still be?

Vipin was candid about what he saw as the Meghalaya police's inefficiency. “Police there start work at 10am and are done by 4pm. That’s the level of seriousness with which they’re handling such a critical matter,” he charged. Govind added his own accusations: “There have been similar incidents in the past as well, which were suppressed,” referring to the mysterious deaths of two foreign tourists in Meghalaya earlier in 2025. “She has been kidnapped. This is a case of abduction, but the authorities are not changing their search area. It appears the police have already given up,” he insisted.

Their distrust didn’t end with the local police. In an act of desperation, Sonam’s father, Devisingh Raghuvanshi, wrote directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. “We have no faith in the local police,” he told reporters. He raised a chilling concern: Sonam had ₹35,000 in cash and gold jewelry when the couple left Indore — enough, he believed, to attract foul play. He also hinted that someone might have followed the couple from their stop in Guwahati or from their hotel in Shillong, suggesting this was a premeditated act, possibly even human trafficking.

Locals speculated that Sonam might have been taken across the Bangladesh border, as the police continued to confine their search to the gorge where Raja was found. To the Raghuvanshis, it seemed like no one was listening. Vipin repeated their demand clearly: “We demand a CBI probe in the case,” expressing his belief that “only a central agency could ensure an impartial inquiry.”

The State’s Response: Promises vs. Action

In Meghalaya, under growing national scrutiny, authorities finally spoke. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, speaking from Guwahati, addressed the press. He called Raja’s murder “a very unfortunate incident” and expressed his dismay. “This is something that we have not seen in Meghalaya before,” he said. He extended his condolences to the family, promising that the case was being investigated thoroughly. “We are working overtime to make sure that we get to the facts and to the depths of what happened,” he assured, adding that rescue and investigation teams were working in coordination to find Sonam.

Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem also addressed the press, stating that the case was being handled with the “utmost seriousness.” Still, his words brought little comfort to the family or to a public quickly losing patience. According to The Times of India, Syiem admitted that “we can’t rule out any possibility.” In other words, nothing could be confirmed. Nothing could be denied.

A murder case was registered, and a Special Investigation Team was formed — but the sense of urgency remained questionable.

Meanwhile, the hunt for Sonam stretched on. Teams from the NDRF, SDRF, local trackers, drone operators, and even military units scoured the Khasi Hills. But bad weather, steep cliffs, and dense undergrowth slowed the search. On June 5, officials rappelled 200 feet into the gorge where Raja was found, but “the final steep sections were declared too dangerous to explore.”

Rescue efforts took creative turns. Drones buzzed through caves and riverbeds. Army specialists surveyed ridges. Still — no sign of Sonam. Her raincoat was found, but her bag and mobile phone remained missing.

Desperate, Govind took to livestreams on social media, pleading with citizens and authorities. On June 5, nearly two weeks into the nightmare, he delivered a scathing statement: “The last rites of an investigation,” he said, accusing authorities of merely going through the motions. “It seems they are not making any real attempt to locate Sonam alive,” he told TOI. He urged the police to expand the search beyond the gorge, warning that monsoon rains would soon wash away vital clues.

This wasn’t just a murder anymore. It was turning into a national shame — a test of whether the country could protect its own citizens, and whether justice in India was truly blind or simply blindfolded. The tragedy of Raja and the vanishing of Sonam has left behind more than just tears — it has left questions that demand answers, and a family that refuses to be silenced.

Aftermath and Unanswered Questions — A Grave, a Ghost, and a Country’s Conscience

With the monsoon clouds hanging low over Meghalaya, Raja Raghuvanshi’s lifeless body was sent for a forensic post-mortem — the final medical examination of a life stolen too early. Experts from the Meghalaya Police meticulously examined every shred of evidence they had collected. This included CCTV footage from the couple’s stay in Shillong and Sohra, mobile tower location logs, and forensic samples taken from the gorge where Raja’s body was found.

The preliminary autopsy reports confirmed everyone’s worst fears — this wasn’t an accident. It was brutal, deliberate murder. “Early autopsy reports confirmed the brutality: Raja had been struck repeatedly with a sharp instrument (the dao) and left in the gorge, his wounds indicating murder before death.” The savagery of the wounds made it clear — Raja had not merely fallen. He had been hunted. The investigation also aimed to uncover “whether he was killed first or fell into the gorge alive.” Forensic experts even recovered Raja’s SIM card, which disturbingly had remained active for a short while after the crime — a chilling reminder that someone might have tried to cover tracks or destroy evidence.

Yet the most painful part was that no motive could be firmly established. “All signs pointed to foul play, but motive remained unclear. The couple had said little online, no ransom demands surfaced, and neither body nor ransom note for Sonam had turned up.” The story was incomplete, and Sonam’s absence kept that silence alive.

Back in Indore, the day of June 5 was marked by grief that rippled through the city like a funeral bell tolling for the living. Raja's funeral saw hundreds gather, unable to reconcile the smiling groom of May 11 with the covered body now lying on a wooden pyre. “Raja’s funeral on June 5 was attended by hundreds. Local officials, including the city’s mayor, expressed grief. The mood was sombre.” In Sonam’s bedroom, the walls once lined with bridal gifts were now silent. Her parents sat beside her photo, candles burning, waiting — praying.

The community did not stay quiet. A candlelight vigil was held, led by local leaders, and a petition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi was quickly circulated, gathering momentum. The whispers weren’t just in family circles now — “On campus and in workplaces, people whispered fears about travel safety in India’s jungles.” The story had grown beyond Meghalaya. National media picked up the incident and carried it as a powerful, unsettling cautionary tale. On social media, the now-viral hashtag #JusticeForRajaSonam echoed across platforms, demanding responsibility, demanding justice.

Today, Raja’s grave lies in Indore, decorated with fresh marigolds and rose petals. A framed wedding photo stands beside it — a haunting reminder of a journey that began with love but ended in loss. “His family has asked followers to pray for Sonam’s safe return.” Far away, in the shadowy green gorge of Meghalaya, the place where Raja’s body was dumped now rests in silence — its rocks holding secrets it won’t reveal easily.

Even now, days after the funeral, Meghalaya Police continue to investigate. Villages nearby have had their CCTV tapes reviewed, local suspects interviewed, and forensic results awaited. But “Sonam’s whereabouts remain the greatest mystery.” Every hour that passes makes her absence louder — not just for her family, but for a nation that’s suddenly realized how vulnerable its citizens can be.

This single case has now come to symbolize something larger — “the safety of tourists and the need for swift justice, especially when two happy newlyweds return home to such unimaginable tragedy.”

In the Raghuvanshi home, the pain runs deep and raw. The family’s faith in local law enforcement has withered. They no longer speak with hope — only determination. “The family is devastated. Their pain is deepened by what they describe as apathy from local authorities. With no progress and no answers, they are demanding a CBI investigation — and justice.”

And now, the nation is asking aloud what the family has been screaming into the void:

Who killed Raja?
Where is his wife?
Why has there been no action?

Raja’s brother Vipul Raghuvanshi remains resolute. “We have written a letter to the Prime Minister requesting a CBI inquiry. A CBI investigation could bring justice to Raja and help find Sonam. The way the Meghalaya police is working, they won’t bring justice to Raja.”

Back on CAT Road, Indore stood still as Raja’s body arrived from Shillong, carried by his brother Vipin. “As soon as they stepped into the house, the parents and family members fainted after seeing the dead body of their son.” The cries from the house were matched only by the silence of the neighborhood. No one played music that day. No shops opened early. No horns honked.

There was mourning all around and a wave of deep sorrow ran through the entire neighborhood.

Later that day, the final rites were performed — a heartbreaking ceremony under the open sky, with firewood stacked, ghee poured, and chants echoing into the dusk. Friends, extended family, neighbors — all came. They carried garlands. They carried grief. “Hundreds of people participated in Raja Raghuvanshi's last journey, in which relatives, friends, neighbors and acquaintances all bid a tearful farewell to Raja.”

His elder brother Vipin Raghuvanshi lit the funeral pyre. Flames rose high, carrying with them the smoke of one life lost, and the prayers for another — still missing, still wanted, still desperately hoped for.