New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday cancelled the bail granted to Sonam Raghuvanshi, prime accused in the murder of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, and directed her to surrender within three weeks.
A bench of justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale set aside the June 29 order of Meghalaya High Court granting her bail, but said she will be at liberty to move a fresh bail application if the trial is not concluded within six months.
“We are inclined to observe that the continued enlargement of the respondent (Raghuvanshi) will hinder the ongoing trial,” the Supreme Court said.
The Meghalaya government had challenged the high court’s decision to grant bail to Sonam, who was arrested on June 9 last year.
The state informed the top court that the chargesheet was filed in February and framing of charges was yet to take place.
“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,” the bench said.
The high court had found fault with the state police for not communicating grounds of arrest and showing a total “non-application of judicious mind,” as the arrest memo mentioned section 403 instead of section 103 (punishment for murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The state, represented by solicitor general Tushar Mehta, told the top court that it was a typographical error on the basis of which the high court let out an accused charged with a serious crime.
The state pointed out that the grounds of arrest were conveyed to the accused at the time she was apprehended on June 9, 2025. This was also noted by the magistrate in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, where Sonam was produced and taken on transit remand to Meghalaya, the solicitor general said.
Mehta further argued that the allegations were serious and she had surrendered in Uttar Pradesh.
Sonam’s counsel senior advocate Ardhendumauli Prasad disputed the state’s claim that she had surrendered and said the trial will take time as there were over 50 witnesses.
Three weeks ago, the top court had refused to stay the high court order, noting that the woman had already been released.
