The Supreme Court has acknowledged the Meghalaya government’s challenge to the High Court’s decision granting bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the main suspect in the Raja Raghuvanshi honeymoon murder case. However, the Court declined to halt the bail as Sonam has already been released. Justices M.M. Sundresh and Sheel Nagu have instructed Sonam Raghuvanshi to submit a counter-affidavit and scheduled further hearings for next week.
During the proceedings, the Bench expressed initial concerns about the High Court’s ruling, emphasizing the importance of observing how the trial progresses. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Meghalaya government, argued that crucial evidence had been overlooked by the lower courts. He highlighted that the arrest grounds were duly communicated to the accused, contrary to the defense’s claims.
SG Mehta informed the apex court that the trial was ongoing, with over 90 prosecution witnesses yet to testify. He criticized the High Court’s decision, stating that it could set an unfavorable precedent. Following the arguments, the Court directed Sonam Raghuvanshi’s counsel to file a counter-affidavit and set the next hearing for the following week. The Court indicated a reluctance to suspend the bail order post-release of the accused.
The Meghalaya government has contested the High Court’s decision to grant bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi in the murder case. The Meghalaya High Court upheld the lower court’s bail order on June 29, dismissing the state’s appeal. Justice W. Diengdoh declined to interfere with the bail granted by the Shillong court, citing procedural irregularities in Sonam’s arrest as the basis for his decision.
