The Supreme Court on Thursday cancelled the bail that had been given to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the main accused in the alleged murder of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi.
The couple had gone to Meghalaya on their honeymoon in 2025 when the alleged murder took place. The court has now ordered her to surrender within two weeks.
A bench of justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale set aside the June 29 order of the Meghalaya high court that had granted her bail. The bench did allow her one option though, she can apply for fresh bail before the trial court if the trial does not finish within six months.
Why the court cancelled the bail
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The state told the court that the chargesheet was filed in February, but the stage of framing charges has still not happened. The bench said, “We are inclined to observe that the continued enlargement of the respondent (Raghuvanshi) will hinder the ongoing trial.”
The court also made it clear that if the trial does not move forward and conclude in six months, she will be free to file a new bail application.
The bench said, “In the event of trial not proceeding and concluded within six months, the respondent shall be at liberty to move a fresh application for bail in which neither our present order nor earlier orders rejecting bail will come in the way.”
Background of the case
Raghuvanshi was arrested on June 9 last year. The Meghalaya high court granted her bail on June 29. The Meghalaya government challenged this bail order in the Supreme Court.
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The high court had earlier criticised the state police for not properly communicating the grounds of her arrest. It said the police showed a total non application of judicious mind, since the arrest memo mentioned section 403 instead of section 103, which is the section for punishment of murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The state’s argument
The state, represented by solicitor general Tushar Mehta, told the Supreme Court that this was simply a typographical error. He said the grounds of arrest were actually given to her at the time of her arrest on June 9, 2025.
He also pointed out that this fact was noted by the magistrate in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, where she was first produced and then taken on transit remand to Meghalaya. Mehta argued that the allegations against her were serious, and that in this case she had surrendered in Uttar Pradesh.
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The defence’s argument
Senior advocate Ardhendumauli Prasad, representing Raghuvanshi, said the high court order required her to stay in Shillong and cooperate with the trial.
He disputed the state’s claim that she had surrendered. He also said the trial would take time since there are more than fifty witnesses involved.
What the court observed
During an earlier hearing, the court had asked Prasad whether his client was willing to surrender. While hearing arguments on merit this time, the court said that not supplying the grounds of arrest is a curable defect, and can be fixed by re arresting the accused.
The court also explained that there is a difference between not serving the grounds of arrest and not giving adequate reasons for arrest.
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The bench agreed with the state that such an objection should have been raised at the earliest opportunity. However, this particular ground was never raised by Raghuvanshi in any of her three earlier bail applications, all of which were rejected.
What happened earlier
On July 3, when the court had issued notice on the state’s appeal, it had refused to stay the high court’s bail order. At that time, the court noted that she had already been released from custody.
FAQs
1: What did the Supreme Court decide on Thursday?
The Supreme Court cancelled the bail granted to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the main accused in the alleged murder of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi. She has been ordered to surrender within two weeks.
2: Who is Sonam Raghuvanshi?
She is the wife of Raja Raghuvanshi and the prime accused in his alleged murder, which took place during their honeymoon trip to Meghalaya in 2025.
