Neither Raja nor Raj: Sonam wanted to elope with a mysterious third person after the murder, had purchased a flat in Indore

Investigators probing the murder of Indore-based transporter Raja Raghuvanshi during his honeymoon in Meghalaya now believe that his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, may have planned the entire conspiracy. Contrary to earlier claims that Raj Kushwaha was the mastermind, officials now say he may have unknowingly assisted her escape, a TOI report stated.

Not the main conspirator? Raj could have been a pawn

Sources suggest that Raj was in love with Sonam and was possibly misled by her. A senior officer said, “Sonam appears to have manipulated each one of them, luring Raj through promises of love and possibly enticing others with financial gains.”

Raj is believed to have arranged a cab for Sonam on June 6, helping her flee to Uttar Pradesh. She was eventually traced and detained in Ghazipur on June 8.

Indore hideout and planned disappearance

Officials revealed that Sonam had arranged a flat in Indore well in advance, where she stayed hidden after the murder. She selected the location, made payments, and kept the address secret — even from those allegedly involved in the crime.

Police suspect that while her family staged protests and searches were carried out across states, Sonam remained in Indore. She left only after she sensed the plan was falling apart.

Mobile phones destroyed to erase trail

According to a UP police officer, Sonam briefly turned on her mobile phone near a highway dhaba in Ghazipur on June 9, which exposed her location. “Sonam avoided her own phone after Raja’s murder, using borrowed devices to contact Raj Kushwaha and others,” the officer said. “Before calling her brother from the dhaba owner's phone, she turned on her phone — likely to note a relative's number. This triggered an SOS from Meghalaya and MP police, who alerted us.”

This alert led the police to track her down at the dhaba and take her into custody.

Three phones bought under false identity

Investigators said Sonam had purchased three mobile phones — one basic handset and two Android smartphones — using ID documents of co-accused Anand Kurmi. “Raj helped arrange the purchase,” the officer added.

Logbook entries from the mobile shop matched police records. All phones and SIM cards were reportedly destroyed in Meghalaya in what officials describe as an attempt to erase digital footprints and mislead the investigation.

Police are now focusing on verifying whether Sonam intended to elope with someone else, and whether others in the case were also misled about her true plans.