Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder Echoes 2006 Munnar Killing: Chilling Parallels Surface In Both Crimes
Meghalaya honeymoon murder, where Sonam killed her husband with her lover's help, mirrors the 2006 Munnar case, where Chennai's Vidya murdered her newly-wedded husband with paramour's help.
As chilling details of the recent Meghalaya honeymoon murder emerge, the case has drawn stark comparisons to a similar and equally disturbing incident that unfolded nearly two decades ago in Munnar, Kerala. The two cases, separated by 19 years and over 2,000 kilometers, share eerie similarities—from the setting and timing to the involvement of secret lovers and a meticulously executed plan that came undone due to digital footprints.
Meghalaya Murder: A Honeymoon Turns Fatal
The latest incident involves Sonam (25) and Raja Raghuvanshi (29), who tied the knot in Indore on May 11, 2025, before heading to Meghalaya for their honeymoon. The couple checked out of a homestay in Nongriat village, Sohra, on May 23, after which they disappeared without a trace. Ten days later, on June 2, Raja's lifeless body was recovered from a gorge near Weisawdong Falls.
A multi-state investigation was launched, and on June 9, Sonam resurfaced in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, surrendering to local police. It later emerged that she had orchestrated her husband's murder with the help of her boyfriend Raj Kushwaha and three contract killers—Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Raj Singh Kushwaha—who have since been apprehended. Forensic reports revealed Raja was fatally struck on the head with a sharp object.
The couple had reportedly visited the revered Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati just before traveling to Meghalaya.
Munnar Murder: A Case That Shocked Tamil Nadu
In a case that stunned Chennai in June 2006, 30-year-old Anantharaman and his wife Vidyalakshmi, 24, embarked on a honeymoon to Kerala, just days after their wedding. After offering prayers at Guruvayoor temple, they checked into a resort in Munnar, reported The Hindu. The following day, the couple visited Kundala Dam, where Vidyalakshmi claimed that two unknown assailants attacked them, killed her husband, and fled with valuables.
However, police investigations quickly unraveled her story. Vidyalakshmi had orchestrated the murder with the help of her former lover Anand, an auto driver, and his friend Anburaj. Investigators discovered a series of text messages sent by Vidyalakshmi to Anand, pinpointing their movements and helping him track the couple during the trip, reported One India. The killers stayed at a nearby hotel and struck when Anantharaman briefly left Vidyalakshmi’s side. After the murder, she staged a robbery to mislead authorities.
According to KA Muhammed Faizel, the Munnar DSP who led the case, the SMSes played a pivotal role in cracking the case. Phone call logs and text messages provided conclusive evidence of the trio’s coordination, reported Hindustan Times.
Parallel Patterns: Sonam Raghuvanshi & Vidyalakshmi’s Modus Operandi
The resemblance between the Meghalaya and Munnar cases is deeply unsettling:
- Both murders occurred during June, just days after their marriage.
- Both women conspired with their former lovers to eliminate their newlywed husbands.
- Each couple visited a temple just before the murder—Kamakhya in Assam and Guruvayoor in Kerala.
- The murders happened in isolated, scenic hill stations—Meghalaya’s Sohra and Kerala’s Munnar.
- Crucially, both crimes were planned and ultimately found with mobile phone evidence.
In both cases, what began as a celebration of new beginnings ended in cold-blooded betrayal.
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