Indore/Ghazipur/Shillong (National Times): In a dramatic turn in the case of the missing honeymoon couple from Indore, the father of Sonam Raghuvanshi has come forward with explosive allegations, asserting that his daughter is being falsely implicated in the murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, and that the Meghalaya Police and state government are “manufacturing stories” to mislead the public.
Speaking to reporters, Devi Singh, father of Sonam, said he believes his daughter is innocent and suggested that her arrest was staged. “My daughter is innocent. I have complete faith in her. She cannot kill her husband. They were married with the consent of both families,” Singh stated.
He alleged that Sonam had reached a roadside eatery (dhaba) in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh on her own, from where she contacted her brother. According to Singh, police arrived at the dhaba and took her to the hospital, but he has not yet been able to speak to her directly. “Why would she do such a thing? Meghalaya Police is lying. They didn’t arrest her in Meghalaya — she came to Ghazipur by herself.”
Singh reiterated his call for an independent investigation, demanding that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) take over the case. “We are considering meeting the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to request a CBI probe. If an inquiry is conducted, I am confident the police officers involved will be held accountable,” he said.
In a scathing criticism of the Meghalaya administration, Singh accused Chief Minister Conrad Sangma of “spreading falsehoods” and suggested that even the Chief Minister should be investigated. “Even the CM is lying. A CBI probe should look into his role. The truth will only come out through an impartial inquiry,” he added.
Singh also alleged that the Meghalaya Police played a role in the death of Raja Raghuvanshi. “I am 100% sure they are involved in my son-in-law’s murder. They have conducted no proper investigation and are instead attempting to frame my daughter.”
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Police confirmed that Sonam was found near a dhaba on the Varanasi-Ghazipur road and was sent for medical treatment at Sadar Hospital. She is currently housed at the Sakhi One Stop Centre — a government-run facility for women in distress.
The case took a grim turn after the body of Raja Raghuvanshi was discovered in a gorge near Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, on June 2. The couple, both residents of Indore, had gone missing while on their honeymoon in the northeastern state.
In the latest development, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma announced that three individuals from Madhya Pradesh have been arrested in connection with the murder. A fourth suspect — a woman — has surrendered, whom police have identified as Sonam Raghuvanshi. An operation is still underway to apprehend a fifth accused.
“Within 7 days, a breakthrough has been achieved by the Meghalaya Police in the Raja murder case,” Sangma posted on social media platform X. “Three assailants have been arrested. A female suspect has surrendered. One more assailant is yet to be nabbed.”
Meghalaya Director General of Police confirmed to ANI that the woman who surrendered was indeed the wife of the deceased.
Meanwhile, Raja Raghuvanshi’s family has also demanded a CBI probe. On Friday, they sent a formal request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking central intervention to ensure an unbiased investigation.
As the case continues to unfold, both families — that of the deceased and of the accused — are demanding answers. The call for a CBI inquiry grows louder amid conflicting narratives, raising further questions about the handling of the case by local authorities.
