Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder: Cousin’s Name Emerges in Payment Trail, Deepening Investigation

 As the investigation into the sensational murder of Indore native Raja Raghuvanshi during his honeymoon in Meghalaya gathers momentum, a fresh development has added a new layer of intrigue. Authorities have identified Jitendra Raghuvanshi—reportedly a cousin of the victim's wife, Sonam—as a potential link in the financial trail that led to the crime.

According to police sources, the first payment made to the alleged contract killers on May 23 was transferred via a UPI account registered in Jitendra's name. This revelation has brought him under scrutiny as investigators examine the financial dimensions of the murder plot.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Sonam’s brother, Govind Raghuvanshi, confirmed Jitendra’s familial ties and claimed that the UPI account used was indeed in his name. However, he did not clarify why Sonam, the prime accused, had not used an account in her own name for the transaction. Govind further told The New Indian Express that Jitendra serves as a junior employee in their family-run business and that the account in question was regularly used for routine business dealings, dismissing speculation about potential hawala links or irregular financial activity.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Police have arrested five individuals in connection with the murder: Sonam Raghuvanshi, her alleged paramour Raj Kushwaha, and three suspected contract killers—Vishal Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi. All five were remanded to eight days of police custody on Wednesday.

Police allege that Sonam, in collusion with Kushwaha and the three others, orchestrated the murder of her husband during their trip to Meghalaya. Following Raja’s death, inconsistencies in Sonam’s account of events prompted closer scrutiny. Investigators say she ultimately confessed after being confronted with evidence during interrogation.

The emergence of Jitendra Raghuvanshi’s name in the financial chain has added a new dimension to the probe, prompting authorities to delve deeper into the money trail that underpinned the chilling murder-for-hire plot.