The family of Raja Raghuvanshi, an Indore-based transport businessman who was murdered during his honeymoon last year, has announced its intention to challenge a Meghalaya lower court’s decision to grant bail to his wife, Sonam. The family, alleging “manipulation” and describing Sonam as the “mastermind” of the crime, has formally demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The tragedy dates back to May 23, 2023, when Raja Raghuvanshi went missing while on his honeymoon in Meghalaya. On June 2, his mutilated remains were discovered in a deep gorge near a waterfall in the Sohra area of the East Khasi Hills district.
Following a nine-month investigation, the Meghalaya Police filed a comprehensive 790-page chargesheet in September 2023. The document named eight individuals, including Sonam and her alleged boyfriend, Raj Kushwah, as the primary accused in a conspiracy to murder the businessman. Sonam was eventually apprehended on June 9, 2025, in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, and had been in judicial custody at the Shillong District Jail for over ten months before being granted bail this Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters following the court’s order, Raja’s mother, Uma, expressed disbelief over the development. “The Meghalaya Police thoroughly investigated the case over the past nine months, but it was beyond our understanding how the game suddenly changed in a month or two,” she said, calling for a CBI intervention to ensure an impartial investigation.
Raja’s elder brother, Vipin Raghuvanshi, noted that the family is preparing to move the Meghalaya High Court. He raised concerns regarding the transparency of the current proceedings, stating that the prosecution has yet to provide the family with a copy of the chargesheet for review.
During the bail hearing, Sonam’s defense counsel argued that the Meghalaya Police failed to adhere to mandatory legal provisions during her arrest. The primary argument centered on the claim that the police did not properly inform Sonam of the specific reasons for her arrest at the time she was taken into custody, which her lawyer categorized as a violation of her legal rights.
The Raghuvanshi family remains skeptical of these grounds, suspecting that the investigation may have been compromised. They maintain that given the gravity of the “mastermind” allegations and the brutal nature of the crime, the release of the accused poses a threat to the pursuit of justice.
