By News18
In a dramatic twist to the sensational Raja Raghuvanshi honeymoon murder case that has gripped the nation, the deceased鈥檚 sister, Shrasti Raghuvanshi, now finds herself at the centre of a criminal investigation. Guwahati Police have registered an FIR against her under several serious charges, including Section 302 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), equivalent to the Indian Penal Code鈥檚 murder provision, along with sections related to incitement and public unrest.
The action stems from a series of viral social media posts made by Shrasti, who identifies herself as Raja Raghuvanshi鈥檚 sister, in which she made emotionally charged allegations against her sister-in-law and prime accused, Sonam Raghuvanshi. In one widely shared post, Shrasti claimed Raja had been 鈥渟acrificed鈥 by Sonam during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, a statement the police say had communal undertones and triggered tension online.
Guwahati Police have booked her under Sections 196(2), 299, and 302 of the BNS, citing her posts as 鈥減rovocative and capable of disturbing communal harmony鈥. The murder probe took this unexpected turn after police noticed that several of Shrasti鈥檚 posts had gone viral, many of them laced with hashtags like #justiceforraja and #trending, and in some cases, even promotional content unrelated to the case.
The Honeymoon Murder
The newlywed couple, Sonam and Raja Raghuvanshi from Indore had travelled to Shillong, Meghalaya, for their honeymoon, just days after their wedding on May 11. On May 23, they checked out of a homestay in Nongriat village, and then vanished. After an intense 10-day search, Raja鈥檚 body was discovered on June 2 in a gorge near Weisawdong Falls in East Khasi Hills, with injuries suggesting foul play.
A major breakthrough came when Sonam Raghuvanshi, Raja鈥檚 wife, surrendered at a police station in Uttar Pradesh. She was soon arrested along with three other accused. The police allege that the murder was premeditated and carried out with the help of accomplices.
As the case captured national headlines, Shrasti鈥檚 Instagram reels, featuring both grieving family moments and confrontational messages aimed at Sonam, went viral. With over 3,94,000 followers, her account became a focal point of public curiosity and criticism alike. Some videos showed her emotional outbursts, while others appeared promotional in nature, sparking accusations of 鈥渃lout-chasing鈥 during a tragedy.
A particularly controversial video was uploaded a day before Raja鈥檚 body was discovered, in which she promoted a mobile store in Indore. The timing of the post drew sharp condemnation online, with users questioning the sincerity behind her activism. Several viewers also objected to her use of insensitive hashtags like #like and #viral amid the family鈥檚 mourning.
Assam Police have since summoned Shrasti for questioning, formally serving her a notice. In response, the Raghuvanshi family has issued a statement clarifying that their intentions were never to hurt religious sentiments. They expressed willingness to apologise and said their posts were driven by grief and a desire for justice.
This case shows how the line between emotional expression and legal responsibility can blur quickly on social media, a senior police officer said. The posts were widely circulated and interpreted as potentially harmful in a sensitive case, he said.
While Shrasti continues to face flak online, the case has ignited debate around how tragedies are portrayed on social platforms, and where the line lies between justice-seeking and performative activism.