Shillong: In a dramatic turn in the Indore missing couple case, 24-year-old Sonam Raghuvanshi was found late at night near a roadside eatery — Kashi Dhaba — on the Varanasi-Ghazipur highway in Uttar Pradesh, sparking renewed outrage and suspicion from the victim’s family.
The discovery has intensified calls for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon in Meghalaya.
Vipul Raghuvanshi, Raja’s elder brother, cast serious doubts over the narrative that Sonam had surrendered voluntarily. Speaking to reporters, he claimed to have spoken with Sonam’s brother Govind around 2 AM, who informed him of her location. “Let me be clear — she didn’t surrender. She was taken by the police. Until and unless Sonam confesses, we will not accept that she is the accused,” Vipul stated firmly, challenging the version being presented by the authorities.
Sonam was first taken to Sadar Hospital in Ghazipur for a medical check-up and is currently being kept at the One Stop Centre in the city, as confirmed by Additional Director General (Law and Order) of Uttar Pradesh, Amitabh Yash. However, her sudden appearance hundreds of kilometres from the alleged crime scene has only deepened the mystery and inflamed public curiosity.
Describing the couple as peaceful and loving, Vipul said the family never saw any signs of conflict between Raja and Sonam. He criticised the Meghalaya police for their silence and lack of transparency. “The SP never answered our calls. We haven’t even been given the post-mortem report. The Meghalaya CM says the police are working round the clock, but we’re in the dark,” he said.
Adding a new dimension to the case, Vipul mentioned the name Raj Kushwaha — allegedly Sonam’s employee — whose link to the case has surfaced during the ongoing probe. “Raj was always on calls with Sonam. I had no idea who he was until this case came up. The fact that his name is involved makes us think that Sonam, too, may be involved,” he added, though he admitted never having seen Kushwaha in person.
The family also revealed that the couple had told them they planned to visit Assam to offer prayers at the Maa Kamakhya Temple and had later mentioned travelling to Shillong. No return tickets were booked, leading to further ambiguity over the intentions behind the trip.
Demanding accountability, Vipul said, “We want the CBI and Madhya Pradesh Police to take over. If Sonam is guilty, she should be punished. But the investigation must be fair and thorough. We just want the truth.”
The high-profile case, now stretching across three states, has put immense pressure on law enforcement agencies to act swiftly and responsibly. As the investigation continues, the Raghuvanshi family, devastated by the loss of their son, waits anxiously — hoping the tangled threads of this chilling mystery will soon be unraveled.
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