Police in India say a woman who had gone missing after her husband was found brutally murdered during their honeymoon is now in custody after she surrendered.
The families of the couple had earlier claimed that the bride had either been killed or abducted and mounted a major campaign to find her.
Authorities now allege that Sonam Raghuvanshi, 25, hired killers to murder her 30-year-old husband Raja during their trip to the northeastern state of Meghalaya. Four men have been arrested in connection with the case.
Sonam’s father, Devi Singh, has defended his daughter, stating, “She is innocent and she cannot do this.”
The newlywed couple, from Indore in Madhya Pradesh, had chosen Meghalaya for their honeymoon, drawn by its scenic valleys. They had married on 11 May in a family-approved ceremony.
“Their marriage was arranged four months back, and they were both happy. There had been no fights between the couple before or after marriage,” Raja’s brother Vipin Raghuvanshi said.
The couple left for Meghalaya on 20 May. Four days later, they went missing. Search efforts involving police, disaster relief teams, and locals were hampered by rain and low visibility.
A week later, Raja’s decomposed body was found in a gorge with his throat slit. His wallet, a gold ring, and a chain were missing. Sonam had vanished without a trace.
The families launched a campaign accusing Meghalaya police of inaction and sought a federal probe, even appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for justice.
On Monday, Meghalaya’s police chief Idashisha Nongrang confirmed that Sonam had surrendered at a police station in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. Three other suspects from Madhya Pradesh were arrested in overnight raids, and a fourth man was detained in Meghalaya.
Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem identified Sonam as the main suspect but did not confirm a motive. When asked if she had an extra-marital relationship with one of the accused, Syiem said, “If you join the dots, then it would seem like it,” adding that further questioning would clarify the details.
Devi Singh told ANI that Sonam had called her brother from a roadside eatery, who then contacted police. He claimed his daughter had escaped her captors and accused Meghalaya police of fabricating stories, urging a federal inquiry.
Raja’s brother Vipin initially refused to believe Sonam’s involvement but later acknowledged that one of the accused worked with her. “Only Sonam can clarify. If she’s guilty, she should be punished,” he said.
Following the arrests, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma praised the police for achieving a “major breakthrough” in just seven days. Minister Alexander Laloo Hek noted that the state’s police, government, and citizens had been unfairly blamed during the search.
“The truth has come out,” he said.
English 