GUWAHATI: A court in Meghalaya granted bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the high-profile 2025 honeymoon murder case, citing serious procedural lapses by the police, including the application of a non-existent legal provision.
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The bail was granted by Dashalene R Kharbteng, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Judicial), East Khasi Hills, who observed that the arrest memo mentioned Section 403(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita- a provision that does not exist.
While the police described the inclusion as a clerical error, the court took a strict view, noting that all key documents related to the arrest- including the checklist for justification of arrest, memo of arrest, inspection memo, and case diary extract- referred to incorrect sections such as 403(1)/238(a)/309(6)/3(6) BNS. The court further pointed out that the accused was never informed that she had been arrested under Section 103(1) of the BNS.
Highlighting another lapse, the court said there was no record to show that Raghuvanshi was provided access to legal counsel when she was first produced before a court in Ghazipur following her arrest. This undermined the prosecution’s claim that she had waived her rights by raising the issue at a later stage.
Granting bail, the court imposed four conditions: Raghuvanshi must not abscond or tamper with evidence or witnesses, must appear before the court on all scheduled dates, must not leave the court’s jurisdiction without prior permission, and must furnish a personal bond of ₹50,000 along with two sureties of the same amount.
Raghuvanshi is accused of orchestrating the murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. The couple had married in May 2025 and travelled from Indore to Shillong, after which Raja went missing. His body was recovered from a gorge on June 2.
Police have alleged that Raghuvanshi conspired with multiple individuals in the killing. Eight people were arrested in connection with the case, of whom three had earlier secured bail.