Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 10: In a sensational twist to the brutal honeymoon murder of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, investigators now suspect that the three men originally believed to be contract killers were, in fact, close friends of the mastermind—Raj Kushwaha, the lover of Raja's wife Sonam.

The shocking crime, which has rocked multiple states, took a new turn as police arrested Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused, her lover Raj Kushwaha, and his three friends—Anand Kumri, Akash Rajput, and Vicky Thakur—who allegedly executed the murder.

All three accused are residents of Madhya Pradesh, with Anand Kumri being apprehended from Bina district in Uttar Pradesh, police sources confirmed.

The newly-wed couple—Raja and Sonam—had embarked on their honeymoon to Meghalaya on May 20, merely days after their wedding on May 11 in Indore. Their trip, however, ended in tragedy when the couple went missing on May 28. The scooter they had rented was later found abandoned in Sohrarim, triggering alarm and a massive search operation.

Though not physically present in Meghalaya, Raj Kushwaha is believed to have masterminded the killing from behind the scenes, remaining in constant contact with Sonam. Police believe that on the day of the murder, Sonam lured her husband to a secluded location, where Raj’s friends ambushed and killed him.

Ten days later, Raja's decomposed body was discovered at the bottom of a deep gorge near Weisawdong Parking Lot in Riat Arliang. A blood-stained machete, presumed to be the murder weapon, was recovered from the site. The preliminary autopsy report indicated two brutal blows—one each to the back and front of Raja’s head.

Following the murder, Sonam also disappeared, leading to a nationwide manhunt. She resurfaced dramatically on Saturday night, found unconscious at a roadside 'dhaba' in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. She was rushed to Ghazipur Medical College for treatment, where she regained consciousness and later surrendered to the police. She has since been taken into custody.

Police are now probing whether this murder was a cold-blooded conspiracy or a crime of passion fueled by betrayal and manipulation. The involvement of Raj's close friends instead of professional killers adds a deeply disturbing layer to the case.