Meghalaya honeymoon murder case: Supreme Court cancels Sonam Raghuvanshi's bail, gives 3 weeks to surrender

The Supreme Court on Thursday canceled the bail granted to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the murder of her husband Raj Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon in Meghalaya last year, and ordered her to surrender to the police within three weeks.

A Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale allowed the plea filed by the Meghalaya government against the bail order.

However, the court said that if the trial does not continue and is not completed within six months, Sonam will have the option to file a fresh bail application.

SC had earlier asked Sonam to surrender

The order came two days after the apex court said it was inclined to ask Sonam to surrender and face trial unless she chooses to do so voluntarily while key prosecution witnesses are examined.

During Tuesday’s hearing, the Bench asked Sonam’s counsel to seek directions as to whether she was willing to surrender voluntarily.

“Either we will consider and issue an order on the merits, or issue an order that you surrender. We present it to you because we don’t want to catch you by surprise, and at the same time you should also understand our mind. You just need to be instructed and come back to us,” Judge Sundresh commented verbally.

Challenge of Meghalaya Govt

Earlier, another panel headed by Justice Manoj Misra had indicated that the Meghalaya government’s appeal against the grant of bail could be referred to a larger court due to conflicting rulings by coordinating bodies on whether the reasons for arrest must necessarily be given to the accused in writing.

Noting that there had been a conflict in previous judgments on whether written reasons for arrest were mandatory, the Bench said it would first decide whether a point of law required consideration by a larger Bench.

Sonam, a resident of Indore in Madhya Pradesh, was arrested in June 2025 in connection with the alleged murder of her husband, businessman Raj Raghuvanshi.

What is the case about?

The couple traveled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon and disappeared while on vacation in the Sohra region on 23 May 2025. Raj’s body was recovered from a deep ravine on 2 June 2025, prompting a massive investigation.

According to the Meghalaya police, Sonam conspired with hired assailants to kill her husband as part of a conspiracy allegedly hatched with her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha to secure financial gain. She was later arrested along with other accused in the case.

The Meghalaya government subsequently challenged the bail granted to Sonam, arguing that she should remain in custody while the trial continues. In Thursday’s order, the Supreme Court reinstated her custody, leaving open the possibility of a new bail plea if the trial is not completed within six months.