On May 11, 2025, Raja, 29, and Sonam Raghuvanshi, 25, of Indore, were married. On May 20, they started their honeymoon in Meghalaya.
Their last known sighting was on May 23, when they were spotted hiking close to the living-root bridge in Nongriat.
After checking out on May 23, both disappeared, and a day later, their leased scooter was discovered abandoned.
On June 2, Raja's decomposing body was discovered in a steep gorge beneath Wei Sawdong Falls. His belongings were gone, and his throat had been slit.
A Special Investigation Team was established after authorities changed the incident's classification from missing persons to homicide.
On June 9, Sonam turned himself in at Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, and was taken into custody on suspicion of murder and conspiracy.
With three previous failed murder attempts in Guwahati and Sohra, police disclosed that the murder was prearranged before the wedding.
At the site, police found Sonam's black raincoat, a blood-stained weapon, phone fragments, a white blouse, and a smartwatch.
Sonam's brother Govind severed his relationship with her, citing her tight relationship with Raj and declaring that he is "100% sure" of her culpability.
She told police she had been forced into the marriage with Raja, suggesting personal resentment
Sonam and her lover and conspirator, Raj Kushwaha, had a continuous affair.
Patriarchs have been using this as an opportunity to vilify feminist and there have been a storm of posts about how it might not be every woman but every time a woman.
However, we must wonder what kind of culture creates a Sonam who believes that the only way to follow her love is through lying, conspiracy, and death.
More importantly, the murder is a crime of one human against another and the focus must not be shifted to specific gender games.