In a significant legal development, a Shillong court on Tuesday, April 28, granted bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the primary accused in the sensational murder of her husband, Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi.
Sonam, who has been in judicial custody for several months, secured her release after her fourth bail hearing. The news was confirmed by the victim’s brother, Vipin Raghuvanshi, who expressed the family’s disappointment over the court’s decision.
The case, which gripped the nation due to its chilling nature, dates back to May 2025. Raja Raghuvanshi, a prominent transport businessman from Indore, had traveled to Meghalaya with Sonam for their honeymoon.
- May 21: The couple arrived in Shillong.
- May 26: During a visit to the scenic town of Sohra, Raja went missing under mysterious circumstances.
- June 2: Following an intensive multi-agency search involving the NDRF, SDRF, and local police, Raja’s body was recovered from a deep gorge near the Wei Sawdong Falls.
Investigations launched by the Sohra Police Station pointed toward a pre-planned conspiracy. Authorities allege that Sonam Raghuvanshi plotted the murder with her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha. Within a week of the body’s recovery, police arrested five individuals in connection with the crime.
While the court had previously rejected Sonam’s bail applications three times, this fourth plea was successful. She follows three other co-accused Lokendra Singh Tomar, Balbir Ahirwar, and Shilom James who had already been granted bail.
However, the alleged accomplice, Raj Kushwaha, remains behind bars as he continues to be held in judicial custody.
“The decision has come as a major setback in our pursuit of justice for Raja,” said a spokesperson for the Raghuvanshi family.
Despite the bail order, legal experts note that the trial is far from over. Further proceedings are expected as the Meghalaya police continue to build their case for what has been dubbed one of the most high-profile criminal trials in the state’s recent history.
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