The latest revelation in the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case has added a gripping eyewitness account that may reshape the timeline of events and shed light on Sonam Raghuvanshi's movements after the crime.
Eyewitness Emerges: Ujala Yadav’s Testimony
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Ujala Yadav, a student from Ghazipur, has come forward as a critical eyewitness, having shared a bus journey with accused Sonam Raghuvanshi on the night of June 8—just hours before Sonam’s surrender on June 9.
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Ujala recognized Sonam after seeing viral news photos of her surrender in the same clothes she wore on the bus.
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She has since provided her testimony to both the local police and the Meghalaya Police, who are leading the murder investigation.
Sequence of Events on June 8
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Ujala met Sonam at Varanasi Cantt railway station, where Sonam, with her face partially covered and flanked by two men, asked about buses to Gorakhpur or Ghazipur.
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Both boarded a bus from Platform 7 and ended up sitting next to each other.
🔸 “She sat with her head bowed, wearing a mask. She asked me for water, and even took my phone to type a number, but deleted it without calling,” said Ujala.
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At one point, Ujala watched an Instagram reel of Raja’s mother pleading for her daughter-in-law’s return. Sonam reacted sharply:
🗣️ “What nonsense videos are you watching? Don’t watch them.”
This outburst, seen now in hindsight, hinted at Sonam’s psychological distress and possibly guilt or fear of being identified.
Discrepancies & Red Flags
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Sonam claimed she was heading to Ghazipur, but kept asking about Gorakhpur, suggesting confusion or misdirection.
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The presence of two unidentified male companions—one with a white cloth covering his face—raises the possibility that her surrender may have been pre-negotiated or staged, not spontaneous.
Arrests So Far
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Sonam Raghuvanshi – wife of the deceased, suspected of masterminding the murder
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Raj Kushwaha – her alleged lover
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Vishal Chauhan, Anand Kurmi, and Akash Rajput – accomplices
The murder appears to have been premeditated, with coordinated action from the accused who lured Raja to a remote location during their honeymoon in Sohra, Meghalaya, and allegedly pushed him into a deep gorge.
Impact of the Testimony
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Yadav’s account helps narrow the timeline of Sonam’s movements after Raja's death on or before May 23 and before her surrender on June 9.
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Her identification of Sonam’s companions and location data may help police trace the network of support Sonam had while on the run.
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CCTV footage from Varanasi station and the bus stand could confirm Yadav’s account and identify the men aiding Sonam’s escape.
Where the Case Stands Now
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Meghalaya Police are coordinating with UP Police and pursuing digital trails, bus logs, and surveillance footage.
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DNA testing has confirmed the body found on June 2 in the gorge as Raja Raghuvanshi.
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Investigators are now determining whether Sonam’s surrender was voluntary or part of a calculated damage-control strategy.
