New Delhi, April 29: In a significant development in the high-profile Raja Raghuvanshi murder case, the main accused, Sonam Raghuvanshi, has finally been granted bail by the court after ten months. The court in East Khasi Hills stated that Sonam was not provided with clear and accurate information regarding the charges against her at the time of her arrest, which constitutes a violation of her fundamental rights.
Sonam was arrested on June 9, 2025, in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, in connection with the murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, a businessman from Madhya Pradesh. Since her arrest, she has been held in a Shillong jail. Investigating agencies filed a charge sheet on September 5, 2025, followed by a supplementary charge sheet in February 2026. Despite this, the trial has progressed slowly, with only four out of 90 witnesses having testified so far.
During the hearings, the defense argued vigorously that Sonam was not informed of the specific charges at the time of her arrest. Her lawyer claimed this was a direct violation of Article 22(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees every arrested individual the right to be informed of the charges against them. The defense also contended that holding an accused in jail for an extended period without trial contradicts the principles of justice and that no one should be detained indefinitely.
The prosecution opposed this, asserting that Sonam was informed of the charges and that this was her fourth bail application, making the defense’s argument inappropriate at this stage.
After reviewing the documents, the court found several discrepancies in the arrest records. Notably, the specific sections under which the case was filed were not clearly communicated to the accused, and the grounds for her arrest were not adequately explained.
The court emphasized that it is essential for any accused person to be clearly informed of the charges against them at the time of arrest. Failing to do so violates their fundamental rights. The court concluded that Sonam had not been properly informed, impacting her right to defense, which led to the decision to grant her bail.
However, the court imposed certain conditions for her bail. Sonam must provide a personal bond of ₹50,000 and two sureties. She is required to appear in court for all hearings, must not tamper with evidence, and cannot leave the jurisdiction of the court without permission.
It is noteworthy that Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam had gone to Shillong for their honeymoon on May 21, 2025. They went missing after visiting Sohra on May 26. A massive search operation involving police, NDRF, SDRF, and local teams was conducted. Approximately a week later, on June 2, 2026, Raja’s body was discovered in a deep gorge near the famous Wei Sadong Falls in Sohra. Sonam, along with Raj Kushwaha and three assailants—Vishal Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi—has been accused of Raja Raghuvanshi’s murder, although they all deny the allegations.
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Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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