Shillong, Jun 7: The Meghalaya police investigation into the murder of Indore resident Raja Raghuvanshi and the disappearance of his wife Sonam has gained a fresh lead after new CCTV footage surfaced showing the couple a day before they went missing during their honeymoon trip.

The footage, accessed by T7 News Channel, shows the couple arriving at a homestay in Shillong on May 22, riding a scooter and carrying a white suitcase. Both were dressed in black jackets and appeared to be interacting normally. Raja is seen entering the property and speaking with the staff, while Sonam waits outside, later removing her jacket.

According to police, the white shirt worn by Sonam in the video was later recovered near Raja’s body. The same scooter seen in the footage was also found abandoned close to the location where Raja’s body was discovered.

Raja Raghuvanshi, 29, was found dead on May 27 in a deep gorge about 20 kilometres from the homestay. His body was recovered with the help of drone surveillance. Police also found a machete believed to have been used in the crime, along with Raja’s mobile phone.

East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem confirmed that Raja was murdered. A case of homicide has been registered, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to handle the case.

The search for Sonam Raghuvanshi continues into its third week. Her brother is in Shillong to support the investigation. Teams from Meghalaya Police, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and a Special Operations Team are actively involved in the search. A black raincoat with suspected bloodstains was recently recovered near the search site, pending forensic results.

Earlier CCTV footage had also shown the couple checking into a different homestay in Shillong on May 21. Raja’s body has been returned to Indore, while the investigation into the circumstances of his death and Sonam’s disappearance remains ongoing.