SC Suggests Sonam Raghuvanshi Surrender

The Supreme Court on July 21 signaled that Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the Meghalaya honeymoon murder case, may need to surrender temporarily so the trial court can record the testimony of key public witnesses before the court rules on bail. The bench indicated it could either decide the case on merits or issue an order directing Sonam to surrender pending witness examination, aiming to avoid surprising her and to expedite the process. Questions were raised about why the plea concerning the non-supply of grounds of arrest had not been raised earlier, and about the impact of a clerical error in the arrest memo that referenced a non-existent section. The High Court’s bail grant earlier rested on that erroneous reference, prompting Meghalaya’s government to challenge the bail in the Supreme Court. The court stressed fairness to both sides and suggested that if Sonam chose to surrender, the trial court could fast-track witness testimony before the final bail decision. The proceedings underscore the tension between ensuring due process and advancing a high-profile murder trial.