Allowing the Meghalaya government’s appeal, the apex court observed that while bail is generally the rule, the gravity of the allegations and the stage of the trial warranted Sonam’s return to custody.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, July 23: In a major setback to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the sensational Meghalaya honeymoon murder case, the Supreme Court on Thursday cancelled the bail granted to her and directed her to surrender before the trial court within three weeks, observing that her continued liberty could adversely affect the ongoing trial.
A Bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and P.B. Varale allowed the Meghalaya government’s appeal against the Meghalaya High Court’s order that had upheld the bail granted to Sonam on procedural grounds. While setting aside the bail, the Bench clarified that she would be free to seek fresh bail if the trial was not completed within six months.
The court observed that although “bail is the rule and jail is the exception,” the principle cannot be applied mechanically in every case, particularly where the allegations involve a grave offence such as murder and the trial is yet to examine key prosecution witnesses. The Bench said Sonam’s remaining out on bail at this stage could hamper the conduct of the trial.
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Court Favoured Surrender During Earlier Hearing
The order follows the Supreme Court’s observations earlier this week, when it indicated that Sonam had two options: either contest the Meghalaya government’s appeal on merits while remaining on bail or surrender before the trial court to facilitate the recording of evidence of public witnesses. The Bench had made it clear that surrender would be the more appropriate course to ensure an unhindered trial.
During the hearing, the judges also questioned why Sonam had not raised the issue of non-supply of the grounds of arrest at the earliest stage after her arrest and observed that the plea appeared to have been raised much later in the proceedings.
State Challenged Bail Granted on Technical Ground
The Meghalaya government, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, argued that the High Court had committed a serious error in granting bail solely because of an alleged procedural defect in the arrest documents.
Mehta submitted that Sonam had voluntarily surrendered before the police and was fully aware that she was being arrested in connection with the murder of her husband. He argued that she could not subsequently claim ignorance of the grounds of arrest merely because the arrest memo contained a typographical error.
The prosecution pointed out that the arrest memo mistakenly referred to Section 403(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) instead of Section 103(1), which deals with the offence of murder. According to the State, the mistake was purely clerical and did not invalidate the arrest or justify bail in a murder case.
Why the High Court Granted Bail
Sonam was granted bail by a Shillong trial court in April 2026 after it held that the investigating agency had failed to comply with the constitutional requirement of informing an arrested person of the grounds of arrest. The Meghalaya High Court later upheld that order, holding that the procedural lapse was sufficient to sustain the grant of bail despite the seriousness of the allegations.
The Supreme Court, however, found merit in the State’s challenge and concluded that the circumstances warranted cancellation of bail to ensure a fair and expeditious trial.
The Honeymoon Murder Case
The case relates to the alleged murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, an Indore-based businessman who travelled to Meghalaya with his newlywed wife Sonam for their honeymoon in May 2025.
According to the prosecution, Raja was allegedly murdered as part of a pre-planned conspiracy during the couple’s trip. Investigators have alleged that Sonam conspired with her alleged lover and other co-accused to eliminate her husband. Raja’s body was later recovered from a gorge in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district after the couple was reported missing. Sonam and several co-accused were subsequently arrested, and the police later filed a chargesheet running into more than 700 pages detailing the alleged conspiracy.
The case has attracted nationwide attention because of its dramatic circumstances, the alleged conspiracy behind the killing and the legal controversy surrounding Sonam’s release on bail over what the State described as a clerical error in the arrest memo.
With Thursday’s order, Sonam must surrender within three weeks and remain in custody during the trial unless she secures fresh relief from the courts. The Supreme Court also directed that the trial be expedited and observed that she would be at liberty to renew her request for bail if the proceedings are not concluded within six months.
