Indian Bride Accused of Murdering Husband on Honeymoon

A 25-year-old Indian bride, Sonam Raghuvanshi, has been accused of orchestrating the murder of her husband during their honeymoon, just weeks after their arranged marriage.

Sonam reportedly turned herself in to police on Monday, June 9—seven days after the decomposing body of her husband, 30-year-old Raja Raghuvanshi, was discovered at the base of a gorge in the northeastern state of Meghalaya. He had suffered a slit throat, and his wallet, gold ring, and chain were missing.

The couple, who married on May 11 in Indore, had set out for their honeymoon on May 20. By May 24, both had been reported missing, triggering an intensive search involving police, local residents, and disaster response teams.

Authorities allege that Sonam hired four men to carry out the killing. Three suspects have been arrested, while one remains on the run, according to the BBC. Police say Sonam resurfaced on June 8 at a restaurant, where she tearfully called her brother—who then alerted authorities.

While Sonam’s father insists she is innocent and claims she had escaped from captors, her brother-in-law, Vipin Raghuvanshi, has since accepted the accusations. “Only Sonam can clarify. If she’s guilty, she should be punished,” he said, initially expressing doubt but later acknowledging that investigators may have been right.

Meghalaya officials, who had faced criticism from the victim’s family during the search, condemned what they called false accusations that maligned the state’s image. Minister Alexander Laloo Hek defended the police, stating, “The truth has come out. Our officers have done an excellent job and nabbed the culprit within seven days.”

The case continues to attract nationwide attention as investigations unfold.