Court grants bail after finding major legal mistakes in arrest documents
In a surprising turn in the sensational honeymoon murder case, a court in Shillong granted bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the main accused in the murder of her husband during their honeymoon, after finding serious mistakes in the legal paperwork prepared by the police.
Sonam, 25, had been in jail for the last 10 months, and her bail requests had been rejected three times earlier. But this time, the court ruled that the police failed to properly inform her of the exact charges against her at the time of arrest, which violated her legal rights.
What mistake did the police make?
According to the court, the police mentioned the wrong legal section in the arrest documents.
Instead of using Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita — the section related to murder — the documents repeatedly mentioned Section 403, which is not even related to murder.
This may seem like a small paperwork mistake, but the court said it was a serious legal error, because the accused must be clearly told why they are being arrested.
The judge noted that the wrong section was written not just once but in several official documents, including the arrest memo, inspection memo, and case diary records. Because the same error appeared repeatedly, the court rejected the prosecution’s argument that it was only a “clerical error.”
Why did this help Sonam get bail?
The court explained that when a person is arrested, the police must clearly tell them the exact grounds for the arrest. This is a basic right under Article 22(1) of the Indian Constitution.
Since the documents did not mention the correct murder charge, the court said Sonam was not properly informed about the accusations against her. This meant her constitutional rights were violated.
In simple words:
Because the police wrote the wrong legal section, the court said Sonam’s arrest procedure was faulty — and because of that legal defect, she became eligible for bail.
The judge observed that the mistake caused “prejudice” to the accused because it affected her ability to defend herself properly.
Bail does not mean innocence
The court made it clear that Sonam has not been declared innocent. She has only been granted bail because of errors in the arrest process.
She must now follow strict conditions, including:
- She cannot leave the court’s jurisdiction without permission
- She must attend every court hearing
- She cannot influence witnesses or tamper with evidence
- She must submit a ₹50,000 bond with two sureties
The trial in the murder case will continue.
The murder case that shocked many
The case relates to the death of Raja Raghuvanshi, an Indore-based businessman, who was found dead in a gorge near Wei Sawdong Falls in Sohra (Cherrapunji) during his honeymoon in June 2025.
Police alleged that Sonam planned the murder with her alleged lover and hired killers to eliminate her husband during the trip.
The brutal nature of the crime had shocked the public, which is why Sonam’s release on bail has created widespread surprise.
Why this is shocking
The seriousness of the murder allegations made many believe Sonam would remain in jail until trial. However, the court’s decision shows that even in serious criminal cases, legal procedure matters.
If the police fail to follow the correct legal process, the accused can get relief from the court — even in a murder case.
