- SC offers Sonam Raghuvanshi two options for bail review.
- Meghalaya government seeks bail cancellation in murder case
- Prosecutor argues Sonam knew arrest grounds despite error.
Raja Raghuvanshi Murder Case: In the latest updates in the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case, the Supreme Court has given two options to prime accused Sonam Raghuvanshi. It stated that the accused can either decide the Meghalaya government's appeal on merits after hearing arguments or direct her to surrender temporarily while the court examines the bail cancellation. The bench chaired by Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale gave these two alternatives during the hearing. The court scrutinised Sonam's behaviour following the incident and inquired whether she had adequately addressed the matter of not receiving written grounds for her arrest initially.
"I think the second operation is better for Sonam Raghuvanshi. If you (Sonam's counsel) want to argue further, we'll hear you and then decide the case," Justice Sundresh stated. The apex court said that if Sonam chooses to surrender, it will direct the trial court to record the evidence of public witnesses in the meantime and thereafter consider the bail issue.
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Prosecutor Opposes Sonam's Bail
Opposing Sonam's bail, State prosecutor Solicitor Tushar Mehta said Sonam was aware of the reasons for her arrest and that the challenge was directed against the grant of bail rather than its cancellation. “If the arrested accused is caught red-handed, there is no reason to provide grounds of arrest. If a person surrenders, then the arrested person cannot use the ground that grounds of arrest are not provided. If the accused herself comes to the police, there is no reason for police to arrest," Mehta submitted.
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According to the Meghalaya government, the arrest memo mistakenly mentioned Section 403(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) instead of the relevant Section 103(1) dealing with murder. The Meghalaya government maintained that it was only a typographical error, as no such provision exists under the BNS.
Mehta further argued that if an accused voluntarily surrenders before the police, they cannot later challenge the arrest solely on the ground that the grounds of arrest were not provided. He also submitted that the magistrate had explained the grounds of arrest to Sonam and that records of the same existed during the transit remand proceedings.
Sonam was granted bail by a Meghalaya trial court on the ground that the mandatory grounds of arrest were allegedly not supplied to her at the time of her arrest. The Meghalaya High Court later upheld the bail order, prompting the state government to challenge the decision before the Supreme Court.
The Background
Madhya Pradesh-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi married Sonam on May 11, 2025. Days after their wedding, the couple travelled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon.The couple went missing on May 23, and Raja's body was recovered from a deep gorge on June 3.
Cops alleged that the murder conspiracy was planned during the honeymoon. Several accused were arrested during the investigation, and Sonam was later identified by investigators as the alleged main conspirator. She was subsequently arrested and later granted bail by the trial court, a decision upheld by the Meghalaya High Court.