A court in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur district on Monday night granted a three-day transit remand to the Meghalaya Police for Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime suspect in the shocking murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon in the northeastern state.

Sonam, 24, will now be taken to Meghalaya for interrogation. Alongside her, three other accused — Vishal Chauhan, Raj Kushwaha, and Akash Rajput — will also be taken into custody. The Meghalaya Police had already secured a seven-day transit remand for them from a court in Madhya Pradesh.

The case has captured national attention due to its disturbing nature and the backdrop of what was supposed to be a celebratory trip. Raja and Sonam had gotten married on May 12 and subsequently travelled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon. However, on May 23, both went missing after checking out of a homestay in Nongriat, a remote and popular trekking destination in East Khasi Hills.

The first sign of foul play emerged when the couple’s rented scooter was found abandoned near Sohrarim. Days of search followed, culminating in a grim discovery on June 2 — Raja’s body was recovered from a deep gorge near Weisawdong Falls, one of the region’s scenic spots. The body had to be retrieved with the help of local authorities and rescue teams due to the difficult terrain.

Sonam remained untraceable until June 8, when she was located near a roadside eatery on the Varanasi-Ghazipur highway in Uttar Pradesh. Following initial questioning and investigation, the Meghalaya Police identified her and 21-year-old Raj Kushwaha as prime suspects in what now appears to be a premeditated crime.

The police are yet to disclose the exact motive behind the murder but have indicated that the involvement of multiple individuals points to a larger conspiracy. The coming days are likely to see further developments as the suspects are brought to Shillong and taken into formal police custody for sustained interrogation.

The case has raised several questions about the events leading up to Raja’s death, the relationships between the accused, and the role of each individual in the planning and execution of the murder. With the transit remands now in place, the Meghalaya Police are expected to intensify their probe to unravel the full story behind this chilling honeymoon tragedy.