Shillong, April 28: A Shillong court has granted bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the murder of her husband, Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, citing failure by police to properly communicate the grounds of her arrest.
In an order passed on April 27, the court of Additional Deputy Commissioner (Judicial) DR Kharbteng held that the procedural lapse violated the constitutional safeguard under Article 22(1) and adversely affected the accused’s right to defence.
The court pointed out discrepancies in the arrest documents, noting that while the FIR registered at Sohra Police Station cited Sections 103(1)/238(a)/309(6)/3(6) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the “Intimation of Grounds of Arrest” served to the accused incorrectly mentioned Section 403(1).
Observing that the error was repeated across multiple official documents—including the arrest memo, inspection memo, and case diary extracts—the court rejected the prosecution’s claim that it was merely a clerical mistake.
“A bare perusal indicates that the petitioner was not informed about the offence under Section 103(1) BNS. Specific facts constituting the offence were not communicated,” the court noted.
The judge further held that the accused was not effectively informed of the grounds of arrest, causing prejudice to her defence. It also noted the absence of any record showing that she had legal representation when first produced before a court in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh.
Distinguishing the case from earlier precedents, the court ruled that the legal requirement of properly informing an accused of the grounds of arrest had not been fulfilled in this instance.
“Under the peculiar facts and circumstances, the petitioner has made out a case of not having been effectively communicated the grounds of arrest… Accordingly, she is entitled to be released on bail,” the order stated.
Sonam Raghuvanshi, who has been in custody at the District Prison and Correctional Home, Shillong since her arrest on June 9, 2025, will be released on a personal bond of ₹50,000 with two sureties of the same amount.
The court imposed conditions including that she must not abscond, tamper with evidence or witnesses, must attend court on all hearing dates, and cannot leave the jurisdiction without prior permission.
The case originates from an FIR lodged on June 3, 2025, by Vipin Raghuvanshi after Raja Raghuvanshi’s body was discovered during a police search operation in Sohra.
Charges were framed against Sonam on October 28, 2025, under relevant sections of the BNS, to which she pleaded not guilty. The trial is currently underway, with four out of 90 prosecution witnesses examined so far.
A supplementary chargesheet filed on February 10, 2026, named Shilom James as a co-accused and added Arms Act charges against Sonam and two others, while seeking discharge of two other individuals.
The court concluded by allowing the bail application and disposing of the matter.
