According to official police sources, Raj Kushwaha had saved his number under the fictitious name “Sanjay Verma” on Truecaller, a tactic seemingly used to deflect suspicion. Phone records revealed that between March 1 and April 8, Sonam and “Sanjay Verma” exchanged 234 calls, with each call lasting between 30 to 60 minutes. The frequency and duration of these calls highlighted an intensely close connection between the two, both before and after Sonam’s marriage to Raja.
Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem confirmed the alias, noting that the number belonged to Raj Kushwaha and not any real individual named Sanjay Verma. “The tally of calls between Raj and Sonam is huge,” he said. “We are still trying to recover Sonam’s second mobile phone, which is believed to be with other valuables she left behind. Our team is working to trace who took possession of these items.”
Sonam’s brother, Govind Raghuvanshi, publicly distanced the family from her actions. Speaking to media, Govind said, “I don’t know anything about Sanjay Verma. We’ve only just come to know his name is connected to this case. Our family has severed all ties with Sonam. We are with Raja’s family and stand with them in their pursuit of justice.”
The murder case, initially filed as that of a missing couple, took a dark turn when Raja’s body was recovered on June 2, nearly 20 km from the couple’s last known location in Nongriat village. The couple, both residents of Indore, had married on May 11 and travelled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon. On May 23, just hours after checking out of a homestay, they vanished. Sonam later resurfaced in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur on June 8, surrendering at the Nandganj police station—coinciding with the arrest of the three hired killers: Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi. Raj Kushwaha was arrested shortly thereafter.
During interrogation, Sonam confessed to orchestrating her husband’s murder, reportedly with financial and logistical support from Raj. Police confirmed that Sonam’s cousin, Jitendra Raghuvanshi, paid the first installment to the hired killers. Investigators believe the conspiracy was hatched over multiple meetings, including one at a restaurant in the Super Corridor area of Indore. The restaurant owner is now under police scrutiny.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) from Meghalaya Police, currently stationed in Indore, has interrogated over 20 individuals so far. These include relatives of both Sonam and Raj, as well as employees at Sonam’s family-run plywood factory, where Raj worked as an accountant. The SIT also questioned a taxi driver, Pramod Saha, believed to have transported Sonam from Indore to Uttar Pradesh as police tightened the noose around the suspects.
In a tragic offshoot of the case, Raj Kushwaha’s grandmother, Ramlali, passed away from a heart attack in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur district. Family members reported that she had been in deep emotional distress since Raj’s arrest and had refused food and social contact, succumbing to grief late Tuesday night.
Authorities are also investigating Devi Singh, who reportedly uploaded two videos featuring Sonam and other accused individuals. Police have reached out to him for questioning, but he has yet to respond. Superintendent Syiem noted that more questioning is underway as new details emerge, saying, “We are uncovering new facts as we dig deeper into the case. The purpose of police custody is to get the complete picture.”
The case has not only stunned the public with its tale of betrayal and violence but has also raised questions about the social and psychological dimensions that led to such a premeditated act. As the investigation progresses, Meghalaya Police are determined to ensure justice is served in what is now one of the most high-profile criminal cases of the year.
(with inputs from agencies)
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