The Supreme Court on Thursday indicated it may refer the Meghalaya honeymoon murder case to a larger bench for a comprehensive hearing. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan made the observation while hearing a petition challenging the Meghalaya High Court's order granting bail to the prime accused, Vikram Raghuvanshi.
Background of the case
The case dates back to 2021 when Raghuvanshi was arrested for the murder of his wife, who was killed during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. The prosecution alleged that Raghuvanshi pushed his wife off a cliff in Cherrapunji, a popular tourist destination. The trial court had denied him bail, but the Meghalaya High Court later granted it, citing lack of evidence.
Previous bench's refusal to stay
On July 3, another bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Sheel Nagu had refused to stay the high court order granting bail to Raghuvanshi. The state government then approached the Supreme Court, seeking a review of that decision. The current bench noted that the case involved important legal questions regarding the admissibility of circumstantial evidence and the standard of proof in bail matters.
Larger bench reference likely
“We are of the view that this matter may require consideration by a larger bench,” Justice Gavai said, adding that the court would pass an order to this effect. The bench also issued notice to the accused, seeking his response. The case is now expected to be listed before the Chief Justice of India for constituting a larger bench.
Impact and next steps
If referred, a larger bench will examine the legal principles involved, which could have implications for similar cases across the country. The Supreme Court has set a hearing for next week to finalize the reference. The victim’s family has expressed hope that the court will ensure justice is served.
