Meghalaya Government Challenges Bail in Supreme Court
The Meghalaya government has moved the Supreme Court against the grant of bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, who is accused of murdering her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon in the state last year. A bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Sheel Nagu agreed to list the plea for hearing on Friday after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought an urgent listing.
Mehta argued that the high court erred in granting bail to the prime accused. He pointed out that the high court had granted bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi simply because the grounds of arrest were not fully supplied to her at the time of arrest. “The concerned non-supply of documents relates to a provision that was wrongly cited due to a typographical error,” Mehta submitted, while emphasizing that there is a chance of the accused absconding.
Details of the Case
On June 29, 2026, the Meghalaya High Court upheld a trial court order granting bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi. The couple had gone missing while vacationing in Meghalaya’s Sohra area on May 23, 2025. Subsequently, Raja Raghuvanshi’s body was found in a deep gorge on June 2, 2025. Police accused Sonam Raghuvanshi of conspiring with hired assailants to kill her husband for financial gains.
The case has drawn significant attention due to its sensational nature, involving a honeymoon trip that ended in tragedy. The prosecution contends that Sonam orchestrated the murder to benefit financially from her husband's assets.
Legal Proceedings and Implications
The Supreme Court's intervention is sought to overturn the high court's bail order. The Meghalaya government argues that the high court overlooked crucial evidence and the risk of the accused fleeing. The bench's decision to hear the plea urgently indicates the gravity of the matter.
If the Supreme Court sets aside the bail, Sonam Raghuvanshi would be taken back into custody pending trial. The case highlights the legal principles surrounding bail, particularly the requirement to provide grounds of arrest to the accused. The typographical error cited by the government may be a key point in the apex court's deliberation.
