Supreme Court to Hear Appeal Against Honeymoon Murder Case Bail

Legal Developments in the Honeymoon Murder Case

A significant legal update has emerged in the widely publicized Honeymoon Murder Case in Meghalaya, which took place in 2025. The Meghalaya government has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the bail granted to the main accused, Sonam Raghuvanshi. She is alleged to have orchestrated the murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. On Thursday, the petition was presented for urgent hearing before a bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and Shil Nagoo.

Solicitor General's Arguments

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the court for immediate consideration of the petition, arguing that the Meghalaya High Court made an error in granting bail to the accused. The bench agreed to list the case for hearing on Friday. During the proceedings, Mehta stated that the High Court granted bail because Sonam Raghuvanshi was not fully informed of the grounds for her arrest at the time. He explained that the issue arose due to a typographical error in the legal provisions and should not be viewed as a serious procedural mistake. He also emphasized the risk of the accused fleeing while on bail, highlighting the need for Supreme Court intervention.

Family's Discontent with Investigation

Earlier on Tuesday, Raja Raghuvanshi's family decided to challenge the bail granted to Sonam in the Supreme Court. Raja's elder brother, Vipin Raghuvanshi, expressed dissatisfaction with how the case has been handled and stated that they would fight legally for justice. Vipin remarked, "Sonam's lawyers are working hard to secure her bail, likely for financial gain. They have been at it for a year, which suggests they are being compensated. Our lawyers, representing Raja, have not received any financial support, which I believe is why they are unable to make strong arguments. Sonam's lawyers are exploiting this situation. We will not appeal in the High Court; instead, we will approach the Supreme Court to seek the cancellation of her bail." He added, "We have no expectations from the Shillong police or the Meghalaya government... Looking at Sonam's case, she previously murdered her fiancé Ketan in Pune. If this is allowed, it may encourage other women to commit similar crimes. Granting bail will embolden them."

High Court's Bail Decision

On June 29, the Meghalaya High Court upheld the lower court's decision to grant bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi. This case is linked to the death of Raja Raghuvanshi, who went missing along with his wife during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. The couple disappeared while exploring the Sohra area on May 23, 2025. After a search operation, Raja's body was recovered from a deep gorge on June 2. According to police reports, Sonam Raghuvanshi allegedly plotted the murder with the help of hired attackers, with investigators claiming that the crime was motivated by financial gain.