Indore Couple Missing Case: How a rejected local guide helped Meghalaya Police catch the 'killer' wife Sonam Raghuvanshi
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Synopsis
Sonam Raghuvanshi News: A honeymoon in Meghalaya turned deadly when Sonam Raghuvanshi allegedly hired killers to murder her husband, Raja. Rejected guide Albert Pde's testimony became crucial, recalling seeing the couple with three Hindi-speaking men on May 23. Raja's body was found on June 2, leading to Sonam's arrest in Ghazipur and the apprehension of three suspects.
By ET Online
Last Updated:
Testimony from guide Albert Pde, who was turned down by the Indore couple, led police to uncover the Raja Raghuvanshi murder plot and arrest the wife Sonam Raghuvanshi, for hiring killers during their honeymoon. It was a chance encounter that turned a rejected guide into the key witness in a murder investigation. Albert Pde, a local guide in Meghalaya’s Nongriat village, had offered his services to newlyweds Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi on May 22. The couple declined, choosing another guide. The next day, Pde saw them again—this time, accompanied by three unknown men, climbing the 3,000 steps back to Mawlakhiat.
May 20 – The couple leaves for Meghalaya
The couple flew to Shillong for their honeymoon.
May 21 – Arrival in Shillong
May 22 – Journey to Sohra and Nongriat begins
The couple rented a scooter, travelled to Sohra, and then to Mawlakhiat village. They trekked to Shipara Homestay in Nongriat with the help of a local guide. Albert Pde approached them that day but they declined his offer.
May 23 – The couple goes missing
The couple checked out of the homestay and started their return trek without a guide. Around 10 am, Albert saw them again, this time with three Hindi-speaking men. This was the last known sighting of Raja.
Village head of Sohrarim reported an abandoned scooter to police. It was traced back to the couple.
May 25 – Police confirm scooter was rented by the couple
The search for the couple intensified but yielded no results.
June 2 – Husband’s body recovered
Police using drones found Raja’s decomposed body in a gorge near Wei Sawdong Falls. A machete and mobile phone were found nearby. A blood-stained raincoat was recovered a few kilometres away.
June 3–7 – Key leads emerge
Police collected statements, including that of Albert Pde. CCTV footage showing the couple arriving at a homestay on May 22 also helped reconstruct the timeline.
Albert said he spotted the couple with three men around 10 am on May 23 while they were climbing the steep steps from Nongriat to Mawlakhiat. He recognised them because he had approached them the previous day, offering to guide them to the living root bridge in Nongriat. However, they had declined his offer and chosen a different guide.
He added that the three men with the couple were speaking in Hindi, suggesting they were not local residents.
June 9 – Wife Sonam Raghuvanshi and suspects arrested
Meghalaya DGP I Nongrang confirmed that Sonam surrendered in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. Three men accused of carrying out the murder were arrested in overnight raids.
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How Sonam Raghuvanshi was caught lying
“I saw the couple with three men on the way up. The men were walking ahead, and the woman was behind them. They were speaking in Hindi,” Albert later told the police. His statement would become central to the investigation, helping police track the suspects and eventually leading to the arrest of Sonam Raghuvanshi, who allegedly hired the men to murder her husband during their honeymoon.From honeymoon to murder: a timeline of deadly conspiracy by wife Sonam Raghuvanshi
May 11 – The wedding in IndoreMay 20 – The couple leaves for Meghalaya
The couple flew to Shillong for their honeymoon.
May 21 – Arrival in Shillong
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They checked into Balaji Guest House in the evening.May 22 – Journey to Sohra and Nongriat begins
The couple rented a scooter, travelled to Sohra, and then to Mawlakhiat village. They trekked to Shipara Homestay in Nongriat with the help of a local guide. Albert Pde approached them that day but they declined his offer.
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May 23 – The couple goes missing
The couple checked out of the homestay and started their return trek without a guide. Around 10 am, Albert saw them again, this time with three Hindi-speaking men. This was the last known sighting of Raja.
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May 24 – Scooter found abandonedVillage head of Sohrarim reported an abandoned scooter to police. It was traced back to the couple.
May 25 – Police confirm scooter was rented by the couple
The search for the couple intensified but yielded no results.
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June 2 – Husband’s body recovered
Police using drones found Raja’s decomposed body in a gorge near Wei Sawdong Falls. A machete and mobile phone were found nearby. A blood-stained raincoat was recovered a few kilometres away.
June 3–7 – Key leads emerge
Police collected statements, including that of Albert Pde. CCTV footage showing the couple arriving at a homestay on May 22 also helped reconstruct the timeline.
Albert said he spotted the couple with three men around 10 am on May 23 while they were climbing the steep steps from Nongriat to Mawlakhiat. He recognised them because he had approached them the previous day, offering to guide them to the living root bridge in Nongriat. However, they had declined his offer and chosen a different guide.
He added that the three men with the couple were speaking in Hindi, suggesting they were not local residents.
June 9 – Wife Sonam Raghuvanshi and suspects arrestedMeghalaya DGP I Nongrang confirmed that Sonam surrendered in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. Three men accused of carrying out the murder were arrested in overnight raids.
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