‘How did the mastermind get bail?’ Raja Raghuvanshi’s family demands CBI probe after Sonam walks free- Moneycontrol.com
Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the murder of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi during the couple's honeymoon in Meghalaya, was granted bail by a court in Shillong on Tuesday, a development that has drawn sharp protests from the victim's family, who have demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the case and announced they will challenge the order in the Meghalaya High Court, according to Press Trust of India.
Additional District Commissioner (Judicial), Shillong, Dashalene R Kharbteng, allowed Sonam Raghuvanshi's fourth bail plea, primarily on the ground that the police failed to effectively communicate the grounds of her arrest, violating her fundamental right under Article 22(1) of the Indian Constitution. The court observed that the "Intimation of Grounds of Arrest" format given to her contained unticked checkboxes and crucially referred to an incorrect penal section under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
While granting bail, the court directed that Sonam Raghuvanshi must not leave Shillong and must report to the local police station daily to mark her attendance.
This was her fourth bail application. Three previous pleas had been rejected.
The family's reaction
The bail order has left Raja Raghuvanshi's family in disbelief. His mother, Uma Raghuvanshi, speaking to reporters, said she could not understand how Sonam had been granted bail despite being identified by police as the alleged mastermind of her son's murder, according to PTI.
"The Meghalaya Police thoroughly investigated the case over the past nine months, but it was beyond our understanding how the game suddenly changed in a month or two," Uma said.
"We only demand one thing from the government, justice for my innocent son, who was murdered. I want a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into this case," she added.
Raja's elder brother, Vipin Raghuvanshi, confirmed the family's decision to move the Meghalaya High Court against the lower court's order. He alleged that the prosecution had not provided him with a copy of the chargesheet, and suspected 'manipulation' in the investigation.
"While arguing for Sonam's bail application in the court, her lawyer primarily emphasised that the Meghalaya Police did not properly inform her of the specific reason for her arrest, violating legal provisions," Vipin said.
The case: What happened
Raja Raghuvanshi, 29, a transport businessman from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and Sonam Raghuvanshi tied the knot on May 11, 2025. Just days later, on May 20, the couple left for a honeymoon in the hills of Meghalaya. They were last seen checking out of a homestay in Nongriat village in East Khasi Hills on May 23, 2025.
On June 2, 2025, Raja's body was discovered in a deep gorge near Weisawdong Falls in Sohra. The autopsy reportedly revealed that he was hacked to death with a sharp cutting weapon, sustaining severe head injuries.
Sonam, who had gone missing alongside her husband, resurfaced on June 8, 2025, near a dhaba on the Varanasi-Ghazipur main road in Uttar Pradesh. She was arrested from Ghazipur on June 9, 2025, by the Meghalaya Police in coordination with local authorities.
According to police investigations, Sonam Raghuvanshi was allegedly involved in an illicit relationship with Raj Kushwaha. The two are believed to have conspired to murder Raja, using the honeymoon as a cover to execute their plan. Police said Raja was allegedly killed by Akash Singh Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan and Anand Kurmi in Sonam's presence.
The chargesheet and current custody status
In September 2025, the Meghalaya Police filed a 790-page chargesheet naming eight persons as accused, including Sonam and her alleged boyfriend Raj Kushwaha, according to PTI.
While Sonam Raghuvanshi has been granted bail, the other accused, Raj Kushwaha and the three alleged hitmen, remain in custody. The Meghalaya Police have stated that they will continue to pursue the case as per law and that the trial will proceed.
Sonam's father and cousin have reached Shillong to submit surety bonds, and her release is expected shortly, according to media reports.
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