In a chilling twist to what began as a honeymoon trip, Meghalaya Police have arrested four people, including the wife of an Indore man, Raja Raghuvanshi, who was found murdered near Cherrapunji on June 2. The wife, identified as Sonam Raghuvanshi, had been missing for nearly two weeks and is accused of orchestrating her husband's murder just days after their wedding in Madhya Pradesh.

Meghalaya Director General of Police I Nongrang confirmed the arrests on Monday. “Four persons, including the wife, were arrested in connection with the Indore man's murder in Meghalaya,” she said. The DGP revealed that Sonam had hired contract killers to eliminate Raja during their honeymoon.

Sonam surrendered at Nandganj police station in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur and was formally arrested. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) also conducted overnight raids, arresting one suspect in Uttar Pradesh and two others in Indore. “The arrested men confessed that the wife had hired them to kill Raghuvanshi,” Nongrang added.

The investigation is ongoing in Madhya Pradesh, with efforts to track down more individuals suspected of involvement.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma praised the swift action of the police. “Within 7 days, a major breakthrough has been achieved. Three assailants from Madhya Pradesh have been arrested, a female has surrendered, and the operation continues to apprehend one more,” he said in a post on X.

Raja and Sonam were last seen on May 23 in Sohra, Meghalaya. Their disappearance sparked concern after they failed to return to their homestay. A local guide, Albert Pde, told reporters he saw the couple that morning with three men, climbing over 3,000 steps from Nongriat to Mawlakhiat. He noted the woman was walking behind while the others conversed in Hindi. “The couple had stayed overnight at Shipara Homestay and returned without a guide the next morning,” Pde said.

Raja’s body was found in a gorge in Sohrarim, while Sonam remained missing until her surrender. His family has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, expressing doubts over the Meghalaya Police’s handling of the case. “We’ve written to the Prime Minister demanding a CBI inquiry. Only that will bring true justice to Raja,” said Vipul Raghuvanshi, Raja’s brother.