Shillong, June 8:  Today is the 15th day, and the search for Raja Raghuvanshi’s wife, Sonam, continues.

The incident of the Indore couple missing from the Sohra region has garnered national media attention, with various theories and stories emerging. As the investigation continues, no fresh leads or information have been disclosed.

However, CCTV footage has revealed that the couple arrived Manha Hotel, Saitsohpen, Sohra (May 22), on a scooter with a small suitcase. It is understood that the couple had inquired about rooms at Manha Hotel at 12:44 pm but were unable to secure one, so they left the suitcase at the hotel.

The CCTV analysis,

• Seen in Oyo Balaji Guest House on May 21
• Seen in Manha Hotel at Saitsohpen in Sohra (12:44 pm) in a blue Yamaha rayz scooty on May 22

• Owner of Manha Hotel told t7 news, there was no vacant room, so Sonam and Raja asked the owner to keep their luggage there. Upon checking the luggage they allowed them to keep.
• Then the couple – Sonam and Raja left for Nongriat from Manha Hotel at 12:56 pm.

On Saturday, Hub News reporter Manna Sangma visited Nongriat village, where the famous double-decker living root bridge is located. This is the tourist spot that had enchanted Raja and Sonam, prompting their visit to Nongriat village.

The trek to Nongriat from Mawlakhiat takes about 2.5 to 3 hours and involves descending approximately 3,000 steps.

The couple reached Nongriat around 5:00–5:30 pm on May 22, accompanied by tour guide Bhakupar Wansai, and checked in at Shipara Homestay. Tour guide Albert Pde had approached the couple at Mawlakhiat, but his service was “politely declined” as they had already hired Bhakupar Wansai.

Shipara Homestay is located in very close proximity to the Nongriat double-decker living root bridge.

Speaking to Hub News, tour guide Bhakupar Wanshai said, “The couple called us on May 22; it was late, around 3:00–3:30 pm, but I did not refuse and decided to guide them to Nongriat. After dropping them at Shipara Homestay, we left (Albert Pde was also there). We offered our service for the next day (May 23), but they refused.”

Transcript of the full interview of Bhakupar Wansai

Bhakupar Wansai, Tour Guide

On May 22, the couple called us, they were tourist so we could not refuse them.  Around 3-3:30 pm, we went to drop them at Shipara Homestay (Nongriat). We reached around 5 – 5:30 pm. We asked, if they would need our service tomorrow, the coupled replied, “we know the way” (very politely)

Hub News: At what time you reached the home stay

Wansai: 5:00-5:30

Hub News: On May 23, did you see them coming here

Wansai: I didn’t see because many tourists come and go…

Hub News: So there are reports that some other people follow them (Raja and Sonam)?

Wansai: That I can’t say, there are many tourists that went up so I can’t say.

They spent the night at Shipara Homestay and checked out early.

The owner of the homestay, Sianti Sohkhlet, said, “After check-in, they ordered dinner, which was served to them late. The next morning (May 23), they left without breakfast at around 5:30 – 6:00 am.”

Transcript of the full interview
Sianti Sohkhlet, Owner

On May 22, two guests came to stay here (Shipara Homestay). They came along with a guide. I can’t recall the exact time… but I think it was around 4:30-5:00 pm. When they arrived here, I showed them the room, and they agreed to stay. While we were sitting here, they asked about the room tariff and fees for the guide, and when to clear the payment, to which I said, “Today.” Then, the guide asked the couple if they would need their service tomorrow, and they declined, saying, “No, we don’t need a guide anymore”.

So, I took the money and asked them to sign the register, and then I took them to their room. When they entered, I came to my own room. They locked their room and went to the Living Root Bridge; they returned after a while, and it was already dark. We had prepared food and took it to their room. They had the food and went straight to sleep.

After cleaning the utensils, I brought them down.

The next morning, I woke up around 5:30 am. The couple informed me that they would check out early, so I asked if they would like to have breakfast.

They refused, saying, “It’s too early; we don’t want to eat anything.” They paid for the food and signed out from the register. I asked if they would remember the way, and they said, “Yes, we remember,” pointing to the stairs. I said, “It’s okay, since you remember the way,” and they left.

Hub News: When did you come to know about this incident?

Sohkhlet: We came to know on Sunday evening (May 25). I saw it on my mobile, so I asked my husband, “Aren’t they the guests who came to stay in our guest house?” At first, he said, “I don’t think so.” Only when we checked the register did we realize they were the same guests, based on their names.

Hub News: So, when they came here, did they hold something in their hands?

Sohkhlet: Only a small airbag and the woman had a small bag.

Hub News: So, no suitcase?

Sohkhlet: No.

Hub News: When they were in the guest house, did they have any argument or anything?

Sohkhlet: No, we didn’t hear anything.

Hub News: Did the police harass you during the investigation?

Sohkhlet: The police called me on Monday (May 26) and asked questions. My husband also told them exactly what we knew. The police came here, checked the register, and seized it.

Tour guide Albert Pde told several media outlets that the Indore couple was spotted around 10:00 am on May 23 while climbing the 3,000 steps toward Mawlakhiat. Pde mentioned that three male tourists were accompanying them.

The viral phone call recording between Raja’s mother and Sonam (believed to be the last call before the couple went missing on May 23) states that Sonam was fasting and Raja was ahead, while she was trailing behind.

Excerpts from the last call:

Raja’s mother: Where is Raja?

Sonam: We are climbing… Raja is ahead of me.

Raja’s mother: Are you fasting?

Sonam: Yes, I am fasting. Why should I break my fast just for traveling? We are in the deep forest. After reaching the top, I will connect you to Raja.

Raja’s mother: Are you eating properly?

Sonam: We are in the deep forest. Let us reach the top, then I will eat.

Raja’s mother: I told you to keep dry fruits and something to eat yesterday (May 22).

Sonam: It is a thick forest. Going down is steep, and climbing up is very difficult.

Raja’s mother: What did you go to see up there?

Sonam: We saw a beautiful and big stream… the food is not proper. We had coffee with milk a while ago, but it was not good, so I threw it away.

Raja’s mother: You are breathing heavily.

Sonam: Yes, I will call you after reaching the top.

The conversation appears to have happened while climbing the stairs, as Sonam repeatedly mentioned the difficulty of the climb and referred to a stream, which might be the one near the Nongriat double-decker bridge.

Sonam also said, “It is a beautiful spot and the stream is very big.”

During the entire conversation with Raja’s mother, Sonam never reached out to Raja to inform him that his mother had called. Typically, when couples walk together, they remain close, especially during treks. Given that three male tourists were reportedly present and the path involved steep stairs, it suggests that Raja was significantly ahead while Sonam lagged behind. This aligns with the testimony of Albert Pde, who spotted the couple with the three male tourists.

Police Case Report:

On May 24, 2025, around 9:00 am, the Sirdar of Sohrarim village (EKH) reported an abandoned scooter (ML-05AA-1472) in the village.

Upon tracing the vehicle’s ownership via e-challan records, the scooter was found to be rented on May 22, 2025, by a couple—Shri Raja Raghuvanshi (27 years) and Smt. Sonam Raghuvanshi (25 years), both from Indore, Madhya Pradesh—from one Shri Sagar Sen Samal of Keating Road, Shillong.

During enquiry, it transpired that on May 22, 2025, the couple arrived at Mawlakhiat village (EKH) on the said scooter. There, they hired a local guide, Shri Bhakupar Wansai, who took them to Shipara Homestay at Nongriat village (EKH), where they stayed overnight. On the morning of May 23, 2025, the couple checked out of the homestay and returned to Mawlakhiat village without the guide. After leaving Mawlakhiat, their whereabouts remained unknown, prompting a search operation in the surrounding areas.

On June 2, around 11:48 am, a police drone spotted a dead body in a deep gorge below Wei Sawdong Falls at Riat Arliang parking lot (EKH). The semi-decomposed body was retrieved and later identified as that of Shri Raja Raghuvanshi by his family members. Necessary formalities were observed, and the body was shifted to NEIGRIHMS for postmortem examination.

The Unsolved Mystery

• The scooter was found abandoned in Sohrarim on May 24 at 9:00 am.

• Raja’s body was recovered near Wei Sawdong Falls at the Riat Arliang parking area (deep gorge) —about 16 km from Sohrarim. Nongriat to Sohrarim is about 23 km, while Nongriat to Wei Sawdong Fall is 21 km.
• The Wei Sawdong Falls area is currently closed to tourism due to a dispute between two villages over ownership of the site.
• From the location where the body was recovered, a dao (machete) and a damaged phone were also found.

• Raincoat with stains believed to be of Sonam was recovered from Mawkma

Since Wei Sawdong Falls is closed and the parking area has remained abandoned, the question arises: how did the couple—or possibly only Raja—reach that area? If they were murdered, where did the crime take place? Who was responsible? And how was the body transported to the Wei Sawdong Falls parking lot?

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