The high-profile Meghalaya “honeymoon murder” case entered a critical phase in May 2026, after the State of Meghalaya approached the High Court seeking cancellation of bail granted to prime accused Sonam Raghuwanshi.
The development follows a contentious lower court order that released Sonam on technical grounds, despite her alleged role in the murder of her husband during their honeymoon in 2025.
Indore businessman Raja Raghuwanshi went missing on May 23, 2025, while honeymooning in Sohra, Meghalaya, with his wife Sonam.
His body was recovered on June 2, 2025, from a deep gorge.
Police investigations later implicated Sonam Raghuwanshi, her alleged boyfriend Raj Kushwaha, and three contract killers in a premeditated plot to murder Raja.
On April 27, 2026, the court of Additional DC (Judicial), Shillong, granted bail to Sonam Raghuwanshi.
The court held that police had failed to effectively communicate the grounds of her arrest, violating constitutional safeguards under Article 22(1).
The lapse stemmed from a clerical discrepancy: while the FIR was registered under Section 103(1) BNS — Punishment for Murder — the “Intimation of Grounds of Arrest” served to Sonam cited Section 403(1) BNS instead.
Challenging the relief, the State of Meghalaya filed a plea before the High Court asserting that Sonam’s fourth bail application did not demonstrate any “actual prejudice” caused by the procedural error.
The matter came up before Justice W Diengdoh on May 21, 2026.
On a prayer made by Sonam’s counsel, the High Court adjourned the hearing to June 1, 2026.
The bail controversy unfolds as police filed a 790-page charge sheet naming Sonam as the main accused.
Earlier, Sonam’s bail plea had been rejected three times before the April order.
Co-accused Raj Kushwaha has also filed for bail after citing Sonam’s release.
Raja’s family has publicly contested Sonam’s claims of innocence.
His brother Vipin Raghuwanshi alleged she handed personal belongings to Raj Kushwaha before the honeymoon and returned to his residence after the murder instead of her in-laws’ home.
Raja’s mother Uma Raghuwanshi expressed distress over the bail, alleging it was “planned secretly through money”.
The High Court’s June 1 hearing is now poised to determine whether Sonam remains free or goes back to jail.
