The Meghalaya government has moved the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of the bail granted to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the high-profile honeymoon murder case. The state government, through its counsel, argued that the bail was granted purely on a technicality — that the grounds of arrest were not fully communicated to Sonam at the time of her arrest.
Bail granted on technical ground
According to the petition filed by the Meghalaya government, the trial court and the High Court had overlooked the seriousness of the crime while granting bail to Sonam. The state's legal team, led by Additional Advocate General, submitted that the failure to communicate the grounds of arrest in writing was a procedural lapse that did not warrant bail in a murder case.
Case background
Sonam Raghuvanshi was arrested in connection with the murder of her husband during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. The incident, which occurred in 2025, had sent shockwaves across the nation. The prosecution alleged that Sonam conspired with her lover to kill her husband, and she was charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder.
The High Court had granted bail to Sonam in June 2026, citing that the police had not informed her of the grounds of arrest at the time of her apprehension. The court observed that this violated her fundamental right under Article 22(1) of the Constitution.
State's contention
In its appeal before the Supreme Court, the Meghalaya government contended that the High Court's order was erroneous and that the seriousness of the offense should have been considered. The state argued that the ground of arrest was communicated to Sonam through the remand application and that she was aware of the charges. The petition also highlighted that the evidence against Sonam was strong, including call records and witness statements.
According to the state's counsel, "The bail order is perverse and has been passed ignoring the gravity of the offense. The accused is a flight risk and may tamper with evidence if released." The state further submitted that the investigation was at a crucial stage and that the accused's release could hamper the probe.
Supreme Court to hear
The Supreme Court is likely to hear the matter in the coming week. The bench will examine whether the High Court was justified in granting bail solely on the ground of non-communication of arrest grounds. Legal experts opine that the apex court may lay down guidelines on the procedure to be followed while communicating grounds of arrest.
The case has garnered significant media attention, with many following the twists and turns. The victim's family has also expressed disappointment over the bail, demanding justice.
