Uma Raghuvanshi, mother of the late Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, has publicly drawn a striking comparison between Siya Goyal, an accused in a recent Pune murder case, and her own daughter-in-law, Sonam Raghuvanshi. Both women are currently implicated in the alleged killings of their partners, prompting Ms. Raghuvanshi to highlight what she perceives as similar conduct and lack of remorse.
Pune Murder Case: Ketan Agarwal's Death
The Pune case involves the death of 26-year-old Ketan Agarwal at Lohagad Fort on June 18. Police have arrested 20-year-old Siya Goyal and 22-year-old Chetan Chaudhary. Investigators allege that Goyal and Chaudhary conspired to murder Agarwal, pushing him into a gorge and attempting to stage the incident as an accidental fall during a trek. The allegations against them are currently under investigation.
"Siya Goyal is choti (mini) Sonam. Looking at her expressions and body language, I was reminded of Sonam. She doesn't appear to have any remorse for what she has done," Ms. Raghuvanshi stated.
The Raja Raghuvanshi Murder Case
The comparison stems from the tragic death of 29-year-old Raja Raghuvanshi, an Indore transport businessman, during his honeymoon in Meghalaya last year. Raja married Sonam Raghuvanshi on May 11, 2025, and the couple embarked on their honeymoon nine days later. They were last seen on May 23, 2025, leaving a homestay in the East Khasi Hills.
Raja’s body was later recovered from a gorge near Weisawdong Falls in Sohra on June 2, 2025. A post-mortem examination revealed fatal head injuries from a sharp-edged weapon. Sonam Raghuvanshi disappeared after the incident but was later located near a roadside eatery on the Varanasi-Ghazipur highway on June 8, 2025, and arrested the following day.
Allegations and Legal Proceedings
Meghalaya Police allege that Sonam was in a relationship with Raj Kushwaha and that they orchestrated Raja’s murder with the help of others. Accused individuals Akash Singh Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi are believed to have attacked Raja in Sonam's presence, with Raj Kushwaha identified as the alleged mastermind. Police contend that the honeymoon trip was used as a cover to lead Raja to an isolated location for the killing.
The Raja Raghuvanshi murder case is ongoing in a Shillong court. Sonam Raghuvanshi is currently out on bail, a decision criticised by Uma Raghuvanshi, who argues it could embolden other accused persons. Raj Kushwaha and three other co-accused remain in judicial custody. All allegations are yet to be proven in court.