‘How Did the Game Change?’ Raja Raghuvanshi’s Family Challenges Sonam’s Bail, Demands CBI Probe

Indore:

The family of Raja Raghuvanshi, the Indore resident whose mutilated body was found in a gorge in Meghalaya in June 2025, publicly questioned on Tuesday how the Shillong court had granted bail to his wife Sonam, who police named the “mastermind” of the alleged murder conspiracy. The family announced that it would challenge the order before the Meghalaya High Court and called for the Central Bureau of Investigation to take over the probe from the Meghalaya Police.

Sonam Raghuvanshi had been held in judicial custody in Shillong for approximately 10 months. A Shillong court, presided over by Additional District Commissioner (Judicial) Dashalene R Kharbteng, granted her fourth bail application on April 28, 2026, after three previous applications had been rejected. The court’s decision rested on procedural grounds: it found that the grounds of arrest had not been effectively communicated to Sonam at the time of her detention, constituting a violation of Article 22(1) of the Indian Constitution. Specifically, the court observed that the “Intimation of Grounds of Arrest” form given to her contained unticked checkboxes and referred to an incorrect penal section under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Family’s Reaction Indore:

Raja’s mother Uma, speaking to reporters while visibly emotional, said she could not comprehend how Sonam had been granted bail despite being identified by investigators as the architect of the alleged conspiracy. She demanded that the government ensure justice for her son. “We only demand one thing justice for my innocent son, who was murdered. I want a CBI probe into this case,” she said. His elder brother, Vipin Raghuvanshi, alleged possible manipulation in the investigation and stated that the family had not shared a copy of the chargesheet. “While arguing for Sonam’s bail application in the court, her lawyer primarily emphasised that the Meghalaya Police did not properly inform her of the specific reason for her arrest, violating legal provisions,” Vipin told reporters. He confirmed the family would move the Meghalaya High Court to contest the bail order.

Police Response East Khasi Hills:

East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem confirmed the development to PTI without providing further detail on the bail conditions. “The accused has been granted bail by the court. However, necessary legal procedures are being followed, and the police will continue to pursue the matter as per law,” he said. The remaining accused in the case, including Raj Kushwaha, the alleged boyfriend identified in the chargesheet, and the three alleged contract killers named by investigators, remain in judicial custody.

Background Case Summary:

Raja Raghuvanshi, from Indore, married Sonam on May 11, 2025. The couple departed for Shillong on May 20 for their honeymoon. Raja was last seen alive on May 23, 2025, the day they checked out of a homestay in Nongriat. He was reported missing on May 26, and his body was recovered on June 2 from a gorge near the Arliang Riat Kunongrim waterfall in Sohra, East Khasi Hills district. His body bore injuries consistent with a physical assault. An abandoned scooter was recovered near a local establishment on May 31.

Sonam subsequently surrendered to police in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, and was taken into formal custody on June 9, 2025. The Meghalaya Police’s Special Investigation Team arrested eight individuals in total in connection with the case. In September 2025, the SIT filed a 790-page chargesheet naming Sonam Raghuvanshi, Raj Kushwaha, and alleged contract killers Vishal Singh Chauhan, Akash Rajput, and Anand Kurmi as primary accused. Three additional persons, identified as James, Tomar, and Ahirwar, were arrested in Madhya Pradesh between June 22 and June 25, 2025, for alleged destruction of evidence linked to the murder.

Legal Context:

Charges against the accused were framed under Sections 103(1), 238(a), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Investigators alleged that Sonam was in an illicit relationship with Raj Kushwaha prior to the marriage, that her family was unaware of this relationship and arranged her wedding to Raja Raghuvanshi, and that Sonam had allegedly warned her family of consequences if the marriage proceeded. According to police, despite this, the wedding took place and the murder was allegedly planned and executed using the honeymoon trip as cover. Police alleged that Sonam posted from Raja’s social media account after his death and returned to Indore to meet Kushwaha before coming to the attention of investigators.

The chargesheet also noted, per prior media reports, that Sonam had allegedly made three earlier attempts to cause Raja’s death before the Meghalaya incident. The bail order granted on Tuesday does not constitute an acquittal; trial proceedings before the Additional District Judge are expected to continue. Key prosecution evidence is expected to include forensic reports, mobile call records establishing contact between the accused, and witness statements. The family’s challenge in the Meghalaya High Court, if filed, would be heard separately from the ongoing trial process.

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