Supreme Court Revokes Bail of Sonam Raghuwanshi in Husband's Murder Case

Supreme Court's Decision

On Thursday, the Supreme Court annulled the bail granted to Sonam Raghuwanshi, who is accused of murdering her husband, Raja Raghuwanshi, during their honeymoon. The court mandated that Raghuwanshi must surrender within three weeks. However, it also stated that if there are delays in the trial, she may file a new bail application after six months. The Meghalaya government had challenged the bail granted to Sonam in the Supreme Court. Previously, on April 28, a court in Shillong had approved her bail. Notably, businessman Raja Raghuwanshi, originally from Indore, was murdered in May 2025 in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. It is alleged that three assailants were involved in his death while he was on honeymoon with his wife.

Court Proceedings

During the hearing, Sonam Raghuwanshi's attorney revealed that there are a total of 94 witnesses in this case, with only four having provided statements so far. A supplementary charge sheet has also been filed, and she was granted bail under strict conditions. The lawyer argued that Sonam did not voluntarily surrender; rather, she was arrested in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, and this was misrepresented as a surrender. The defense maintained that she is complying with the stringent bail conditions and poses no flight risk. Representing the Meghalaya government, SG Tushar Mehta contended that the grounds for arrest presented are baseless, as the accused had surrendered, as noted in the charge sheet. In a previous hearing, the Supreme Court had given Sonam's lawyer two options: either she surrenders or the court would decide on revoking her bail.

Sonam's Defense

In her response filed with the Supreme Court, Sonam Raghuwanshi declared her innocence, asserting that she has been falsely implicated in this case and that the prosecution's entire case relies on circumstantial evidence. Therefore, she argued that she cannot be convicted solely based on allegations. SG Mehta informed the Supreme Court that there was merely a typographical error in referencing the legal section in the documents. He argued that such a minor technical mistake should not warrant the granting of bail. Mehta further claimed that if Sonam's bail were to remain in effect, there would be a risk of her fleeing. In revoking her bail, the Supreme Court remarked, "In a changing society, such things are inevitable. Today's generation may be more informed than ours, but they are weaker when it comes to handling pressure." Justice Varale noted that what is shared on WhatsApp is often considered knowledge.