Amid mounting anguish and unanswered questions, the family of newlyweds Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi has demanded a CBI enquiry, expressing deep suspicion that the case may be linked to robbery. As police confirm the recovery of Raja’s decomposed body from a gorge near Weisawdong Falls in Sohra, the grieving family reveals that jewellery worth nearly ₹10 lakh is missing, and Sonam remains untraceable. What began as a disappearance has now escalated into a chilling mystery that has left loved ones devastated and desperate for justice.
In a grim turn of events, the East Khasi Hills District Police on Monday registered a case of murder following the discovery of Raja’s body, found after eight harrowing days of search operations. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to examine every possible angle in what is fast becoming one of the region’s most disturbing cases.
Raja’s brother, Vipin Raghuvanshi, confirmed that two diamond bracelets, two gold chains, two gold rings, and four mobile phones have gone missing—strengthening their belief that robbery was a possible motive. He also did not rule out the angle of kidnapping in Sonam’s disappearance, stating that the family is anxiously awaiting her return while the search continues.
“There are no CCTV cameras where the body was found. We cannot accuse anyone directly, but we suspect abduction. We urge the CM to hand over the case to the CBI,” said Vipin Raghuvanshi, the victim’s brother.
Both families are currently at NEIGRIHMS, where the post-mortem is being conducted. They are expected to return to Indore later today, carrying home not only the lifeless body of a loved one but a haunting void left by Sonam’s unexplained absence.
The breakthrough in the case came when a police drone, part of a multi-agency operation including SDRF, SOT, and the West Jaintia Hills Adventure and Mountaineering Club, detected the body deep below the Weisawdong parking lot. The retrieval was grueling due to the steep terrain, and legal formalities were conducted at the site in the presence of local witnesses. Raja was identified by a tattoo on his right arm.
Disturbing evidence was found at the scene—personal items including a woman’s shirt, a strip of tablets, a damaged mobile screen, and a smartwatch still strapped to the deceased. These fragments now form part of a larger and more troubling puzzle.
