The Honeymoon murder case of Raja Raghuvanshi, which brought international attention to Indore, now appears just as confusing after the court’s recent decisions nearly a year later.
From what is visible, Sonam Raghuvanshi’s family seems divided. On one side is her father, Devisingh, and on the other, her brother Govind.
Until a few months ago, Govind had spoken about visiting Shillong to meet Sonam and arrange legal assistance, but now he has distanced himself completely from his sister.
After Sonam was granted bail, both her father (who is currently with her in Shillong) and Govind (in Indore) have refused to speak further on the matter. In fact, both have made alarming remarks in front of the media, hinting at extreme distress and even self-harm. The question now is- why a case that once received so much attention is suddenly gone so cold now?
Meanwhile, Raj Kushwaha’s bail plea has already been rejected once in the honeymoon murder, casting doubt on the chances of bail for the other three accused. Raja Raghuvanshi’s family, including his brothers Sachin and Vipin, has decided to take legal action against Sonam’s bail. Sachin said they never expected such a decision from the judiciary.
They are not only disappointed but also fearful and distressed. He added that repeatedly travelling from Indore to Shillong is not feasible due to its negative impact on their business and family. Since last year, they have not been able to focus on work and are now trying to arrange for online hearings. They are also contacting lawyers both in Shillong and Indore.
These new developments have deeply shocked Raja’s parents. When speaking to his mother, Uma Devi, she broke down in tears.
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She questioned how someone accused of such a brutal murder could be granted bail, saying it sends a wrong message to society. She stated that the entire family wants Sonam to receive the death penalty. She also appealed to the people of Meghalaya to peacefully support efforts to ensure justice, stating that the case has tarnished the state’s image as well.
The case has shattered the family. Both brothers, Vipin and Sachin, have left their work to pursue justice, affecting their livelihoods.
‘Media putting mental pressure’
Meanwhile, Sonam’s father, Devisingh, has gone to Shillong to be with her. It’s his first time stepping out since the incident. Govind clarified that as per legal procedure, a family member must stay with Sonam, which is why their father is there. However, he claims he has nothing to do with her bail.
In a phone conversation, Devisingh confirmed that Sonam is with him in Shillong, but they are unaware when she will be allowed to return to Indore. He also stated that he no longer has any relationship with Govind, neither familial nor business ties. He mentioned Sonam is not in a condition to speak. During the conversation, he expressed frustration with the media, saying they have been harassing his daughter for a year. He questioned whether they (the media) want her to take an extreme step before abruptly ending the call.
Govind had previously made similar statements, saying the case has severely affected his family and business, leaving him in debt. He has distanced himself completely from Sonam, stating he neither arranged a lawyer for her nor has knowledge of her actions. He added that even if Sonam returns to Indore, he would not want to live in the same house. He also said that he is wverwhelmed by social media abuse against him, which is pushing him to the brink.
‘Money, not love, is the motive’
Earlier, Govind also alleged that Raj had committed fraud within the company and transferred money into his mother’s account, something he claims to have discovered later. He denied any romantic relationship between Raj and Sonam from the start, stating that money, not love, can be the motive. He also mentioned that Raj and Sonam were planning to start their own company. This raises several unanswered questions. Was Sonam involved in the alleged fraud? If money was the motive, why was murder necessary? And why did Govind not reveal these claims earlier?
In September 2025, when I was taking Govind’s interview, he had said he was waiting for the charge sheet before deciding further action.
At that time, he maintained that Sonam’s behaviour had been normal and denied rumours about her relationship with Raj, stating that their communication was work-related.
Sonam had given no indication, neither to him nor to anyone in the family that she might do something wrong. She had entered the business only about three years before this incident. Govind had mentioned the rumours about Sonam and Raj’s relationship, but he insisted that it was an employer-employee relationship.
Govind said he wanted to see the charge sheet. But the lawyer handling Sonam’s case is a government-appointed one, and he does not think they will provide him with the charge sheet. Therefore, he will have to obtain a copy himself. Once he gets the charge sheet, he will need to hire a lawyer. He plans to go to Shillong and see what legal steps he can take.
Govind also mentioned that Raj used to come to the office rarely—only once every week or two, usually when there was work related to a client or to make payments. Otherwise, he stayed at the warehouse. As for the business, some of it was in Sonam’s name.
But all of that has more or less come to an end now. According to Govind, his business is also in trouble. People are hesitant and afraid to do business with him, wondering whether they should associate with him or not, even though he says he had no involvement in any of this. This all happened just a few months ago.
Meanwhile, Raj Kushwaha’s family has relocated to their village in Uttar Pradesh, and the families of the other accused have also returned to their villages. Compared to Sonam, the other accused come from much weaker financial backgrounds.
Another major question arises. if Sonam was identified as the main conspirator in the FIR, why was she granted bail while others were not? The court granted her conditional bail, including a clause that she must not tamper with evidence or influence witnesses. However, concerns remain about the practical enforcement of such conditions in a vast country.
The state government has already move the High Court and the case is listed for May 12.
Overall, the case remains complex and unresolved, with many unanswered questions. There is also concern that if the police fail to present strong evidence, all accused could eventually be released.
In the end, Raja, who lost his life, still awaits justice.
