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Shillong: Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the sensational 2025 honeymoon murder of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi, was granted bail by a Sessions Court in Shillong on April 28, 2026.
This marks her fourth bail application. Judicial Officer D. Kharbateng approved the bail with strict conditions, including a personal bond of Rs 50,000, restriction to the court’s jurisdiction, mandatory regular appearances before the investigating officer, and presence during all court hearings.
### The Case Background
Raja Raghuvanshi went missing on May 23, 2025, shortly after the newlywed couple arrived in Shillong and moved to the Sohra (Cherrapunji) area of Meghalaya for their honeymoon. His mutilated body was recovered on June 2, 2025, from a gorge near a waterfall in the East Khasi Hills district.
Meghalaya Police alleged that Sonam orchestrated the murder in collusion with her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha (also referred to as Raj Khushwaha), and three contract killers — Akash Rajput, Anand Kurmi, and Vishal Singh Chauhan. Sonam was arrested in June 2025 from Uttar Pradesh.
A detailed 790-page chargesheet was filed in September 2025 under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including murder and criminal conspiracy. All accused have been in judicial custody since mid-2025.
### Current Status
Police have stated that the investigation is complete and the trial will proceed against Sonam and the other co-accused who remain in custody. The case had attracted widespread public attention due to its dramatic setting during a honeymoon trip and the alleged conspiracy behind the crime.
Reactions to the bail have been mixed on social media, with some expressing disappointment over the decision while others viewed it as part of standard legal procedure after nearly a year in custody and the filing of the chargesheet.
The trial is expected to begin soon in the Shillong court.