Sonam Raghuvanshi Surrenders After Supreme Court Cancels Bail in Honeymoon Murder Case

Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the 2025 Meghalaya honeymoon murder case, surrendered before a trial court in Shillong after the Supreme Court cancelled her bail, marking a major development in the high-profile case.

Following her surrender, the Indore resident was remanded to judicial custody on Tuesday, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said. The apex court, in its July 23 order, had set aside the bail granted to Sonam and directed her to surrender within three weeks.

The case relates to the death of Raja Raghuvanshi, an Indore-based businessman who was allegedly murdered during his honeymoon in Meghalaya. The couple went missing in the Sohra region on May 23, 2025, and Raja's body was recovered from a deep gorge on June 2, 2025, prompting an extensive investigation.

According to Meghalaya Police, Sonam allegedly conspired with her purported lover, Raj Kushwaha, and hired contract killers to murder her husband for financial gain. She was arrested in June 2025 and has remained the central accused in the case.

The surrender follows a legal battle over her bail. While the Meghalaya High Court had upheld a trial court's decision granting her bail, the Meghalaya government challenged the order before the Supreme Court.

Allowing the state's appeal, a Bench of Justices M M Sundresh and P B Varale observed that Sonam's continued release could hamper the ongoing trial. The court therefore cancelled her bail and directed her to surrender. However, it also clarified that if the trial does not proceed and conclude within six months, Sonam may file a fresh bail application.

The Supreme Court's intervention marks the latest development in the widely followed honeymoon murder case, with the trial expected to continue under closer judicial scrutiny as the prosecution pursues charges of conspiracy and murder.