The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the bail granted to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the alleged murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, while agreeing to examine the Meghalaya government's challenge to the order.
A Bench of the apex court observed that although it had reservations about certain aspects of the Meghalaya High Court's ruling, Sonam had already been released on bail. It therefore declined to pass any interim order staying her release, issued notice to her on the state's appeal and sought her response.
The matter will be taken up again after Sonam files her reply.
Sonam is accused of conspiring to murder her husband during their trip to Sohra in May 2025. According to the prosecution, she allegedly hired contract killers to execute the crime. Raja Raghuvanshi's body was later recovered from a gorge, triggering a high-profile investigation by the Meghalaya Police. Sonam and several others were subsequently arrested, though she has denied the allegations.
Also read: Meghalaya moves SC against Sonam Raghuvanshi's bail
The Meghalaya government has challenged the June 29 order of the Meghalaya High Court, which upheld a Shillong trial court's decision granting bail to Sonam. The High Court had cited procedural lapses in the arrest records, including an incorrect reference to the penal provision in the arrest memo, and held that the defects affected the legality of the arrest.
The state has contended that the error was merely clerical and should not outweigh the gravity of the allegations.
Appearing for the state, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the Supreme Court to stay the bail, arguing that the High Court had attached undue importance to a technical defect despite strong evidence against the accused. The apex court, however, declined to intervene at this stage, noting that Sonam was already out on bail.
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