What was supposed to be the beginning of a new life ended in tragedy, manipulation and betrayal. Amidst the serene beauty of the Shillong hills, a diabolical plan was quietly unfolding. And when the fog lifted, what emerged was a story so disturbing it seemed straight out of a thriller.
On May 20, Indian businessman Raja Raghuvanshi embarked on his honeymoon with his new wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi. The chosen destination: Shillong, in the state of Meghalaya, known for its bucolic landscapes and romantic atmosphere. But behind the celebratory trip, a deadly plot was hidden. A few days after their arrival, the couple simply disappeared. The news began to circulate discreetly among family and friends, while local police struggled to find them due to dense fog and constant rain in the mountainous region. It was only after days of searching that Raja’s body was found in an advanced state of decomposition in a remote canyon — without documents, without a wedding ring, and with obvious signs of violence.
Investigators immediately suspected foul play. The scene didn’t suggest an accident — Raja’s injuries were consistent with a brutal struggle. Locals told authorities they had seen the couple arguing the night before near a cliffside viewpoint. Some recalled hearing a woman’s voice shouting for help, while others dismissed it as echoes distorted by the mist. But the absence of Sonam deepened the mystery. Was she a victim too, or had she vanished for reasons far more sinister?
Days later, the case took a chilling turn. Sonam suddenly reappeared at a nearby police station, barefoot, trembling, and claiming she had been kidnapped by unknown men. She told officers she had narrowly escaped after being held captive in a remote cabin. Her story, however, began to unravel under scrutiny. Investigators found inconsistencies — times that didn’t match, locations that didn’t exist, and emotional reactions that seemed rehearsed rather than real.
While police questioned Sonam, Raja’s family flew in from Delhi, devastated and demanding answers. They revealed that Raja had confided in his brother weeks before the wedding, expressing doubts about Sonam’s intentions. He had discovered strange transactions in her account and messages exchanged with a man identified only as “Karan.” The revelation shocked investigators, prompting them to dig deeper into Sonam’s background.
The deeper they went, the darker the truth became. Sonam wasn’t who she claimed to be. Records showed she had previously been married under a different name — and her former husband had died under suspicious circumstances as well. Moreover, Karan, the man in her messages, turned out to be her ex-lover, a small-time scam artist with a history of fraud and extortion. The police now suspected that Raja’s death was not only premeditated but orchestrated by the pair for financial gain.
When officers traced Karan’s movements, they discovered he had been in Shillong during the same period. CCTV footage from a roadside inn showed him meeting Sonam in secret just two days before Raja’s disappearance. They appeared relaxed, even affectionate, as they discussed something intensely over coffee. That footage was enough to warrant their arrest. But before the police could locate Karan, he too had vanished — as if swallowed by the misty hills themselves.
Confronted with evidence, Sonam broke down and confessed. She admitted that she and Karan had planned Raja’s murder to collect on his life insurance policy, worth millions. On the night of May 23, she had lured Raja to the cliff under the pretense of watching the sunrise. There, Karan ambushed him. They struggled violently, and Raja fell to his death after being struck on the head. Sonam’s role was to act as the grieving widow until the payout was complete. But when Raja’s body was found too soon, the plan began to crumble.
The confession sent shockwaves through the country. News outlets splashed the story across front pages, branding it “The Honeymoon Murder.” People were horrified at how love and trust had been weaponized into instruments of greed. Social media erupted with outrage, and Sonam quickly became one of the most hated women in India. Meanwhile, authorities intensified their search for Karan, who had reportedly fled toward the Bangladesh border using fake documents.
Months passed before justice finally arrived. Acting on a tip, police tracked Karan to a fishing village near Chittagong, where he was living under a false identity. He was extradited back to India, tried alongside Sonam, and both were sentenced to life imprisonment. During the trial, Sonam showed little remorse. She stared coldly at Raja’s family as they wept in court. When asked if she had anything to say, she whispered, “He trusted too easily.” It was a chilling reminder that beneath the facade of romance, darkness had always been waiting.
Even years later, locals in Shillong still talk about the case — how a honeymoon meant for joy turned into a nightmare that revealed the ugliest corners of human nature. Tourists visit the cliff where Raja’s body was found, leaving flowers and notes that read “In memory of love betrayed.” The fog still rolls over those hills, thick and quiet, as if trying to hide the echoes of that night when trust, greed, and death collided under a moonlit sky.