Bail granted, but Sonam cannot return to Indore:Court allows release but orders her to stay in Shillong

A significant development has emerged in the murder case of Indore-based transport businessman Raja Raghuvanshi. The main accused, Sonam Raghuvanshi, has been granted bail by a court in Meghalaya’s capital, Shillong, after nearly 320 days in custody.
However, the court has imposed strict conditions requiring her to remain in Shillong throughout the trial period and prohibiting her from leaving without prior court permission. Sonam was released from jail on Tuesday evening after her father, Devendra Singh, personally travelled to Shillong and furnished the bail bond. Bail granted after fourth hearing The Shillong court approved her bail on Monday following the fourth hearing in the case. After her release, reporters attempted to question Sonam and her father, but both declined to comment and left the premises silently. Court Flags irregularities in arrest procedure A key reason behind the bail decision was alleged procedural lapses during Sonam’s arrest. Her lawyer argued that during her arrest in Ghazipur on June 7, 2025, she was not clearly informed of the grounds for detention. The court reportedly identified serious inconsistencies in official arrest documentation. Referring to Article 22(1) of the Constitution, the court observed that informing an arrested person of the reasons for arrest is a fundamental right, and failure to do so violates constitutional safeguards. Key procedural errors highlighted by defence The defence pointed out several irregularities in police records: Prolonged judicial custody also a factor Sonam’s defence counsel argued that she had been in judicial custody since June 9, 2025, spending over 10 months in prison, while the trial progressed slowly. Defence cites lack of evidence and strong social background Opposing bail, Meghalaya Police argued that the accused could influence witnesses or tamper with evidence. However, the defence countered that no concrete evidence supports such claims. They further stated that all evidence is already part of the court record and under judicial supervision, making tampering unlikely. The defence also highlighted that Sonam is a permanent resident of Indore from a well-established business family with operations across multiple states, has no prior criminal record, and is unlikely to abscond. Considering her age and circumstances, the defence also invoked the principle of leniency in bail decisions.