GUWAHATI: The Supreme Court on Friday, July 3, declined to stay the bail granted to Sonam Raghuvanshi, who is accused in the murder of her husband, Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon in Meghalaya.
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A Bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and Sheel Nagu observed that while the allegations against Sonam were "quite serious", it was not inclined to send her back to judicial custody after being informed that she had already been released on bail.
The court was hearing an appeal filed by the Meghalaya government against the June 29 order of the Meghalaya High Court, which upheld a Shillong trial court's decision granting bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi.
The High Court had granted her bail after holding that the police failed to effectively communicate the grounds of her arrest, making the arrest procedurally defective.
Appearing for the Meghalaya government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the allegations against Sonam were grave and that she should not have been granted bail on what he described as technical grounds. He urged the apex court to stay the High Court's order.
However, the Bench refused to grant interim relief, noting that Sonam had already been released from custody.
The Supreme Court has issued notice in the matter and posted the case for further hearing after the court reopens following its vacation.
The Meghalaya government had moved the apex court on Thursday, challenging the High Court's decision to grant bail to Sonam in the high-profile murder case.
Sonam Raghuvanshi was arrested in connection with the alleged murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, who was found dead in Meghalaya after the couple went missing during their honeymoon following their wedding on May 11. The case has attracted nationwide attention due to allegations of a conspiracy behind the killing and the subsequent arrests of multiple accused.
