A court in Shillong has granted bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the widely reported Meghalaya honeymoon murder case, officials said on Tuesday. The development was confirmed by the elder brother of the deceased, Raja Raghuvanshi, and has come as a setback for the victim’s family members, who have been seeking justice.
Authorities added that while bail has been granted, the detailed order is yet to be made available. Meanwhile, co-accused Raj Kushwaha, alleged to be Sonam’s associate, continues to remain in judicial custody.
The case had drawn nationwide attention after Raja Raghuvanshi, an Indore-based businessman, and his wife Sonam travelled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon in May last year. The couple arrived in Shillong on May 21 and later visited Sohra on May 26, after which they went missing under suspicious circumstances.
Raja’s decomposed body was recovered on June 2 from a deep gorge near Wei Sadong Falls following an extensive search operation.
Investigators have previously indicated that the crime may have been driven by personal and financial motives, with attempts made to destroy evidence and conceal the body. On June 9, Sonam was traced to a roadside eatery in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, and was subsequently arrested by police.
Further investigation revealed the involvement of five accused, including Sonam, Raj Kushwaha, and three others—Vishal Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi—all reportedly from Madhya Pradesh.
Police have alleged that Sonam and Kushwaha were in a relationship and conspired to murder Raja by hiring the three men to carry out the crime during the honeymoon trip. All the accused have denied the allegations.
A case was registered at Sohra Police Station, and multiple agencies conducted a detailed investigation. All five accused were arrested within a week of the incident.
Further proceedings in the case are awaited as the investigation and trial continue.
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