Shillong honeymoon murder accused Sonam gets bail after 320 days:Defence cites no evidence, only suspicion; procedural lapses turn case

The main accused in the murder of her husband during their honeymoon in Shillong, Meghalaya, Sonam, has come out of jail after 320 days. Over the past seven months, she sought bail four times. Her first three applications were rejected, but in the fourth attempt, she secured conditional bail on the basis of a legal loophole — a technical lapse in procedure. A study by Dainik Bhaskar found that the defence first tried to turn the ‘love affair’ theory into a ‘brother-sister’ relationship narrative, and eventually used procedural lapses as its shield. Here is a step-by-step look at how Sonam got bail. Sonam’s first bail application was filed along with the chargesheet, but the court rejected it. In her second plea, the defence argued that police lacked concrete evidence. During the hearing on 15 October 2025, the defence presented four key arguments: However, the court rejected these arguments, observing that there was prima facie evidence of Sonam’s involvement and a risk that she could abscond if released. Two months later, on 17 December 2025, Sonam sought bail again. This time, the defence introduced a new emotional angle. But once again, the court denied relief, citing the gravity of the offence. After three failed attempts, Sonam’s legal team identified major flaws in the arrest process in the fourth plea. When the court examined the record, police lapses came to light. It found several technical flaws in the arrest documents. Referring to Article 22(1) of the Constitution, the court observed that every citizen must be informed immediately of the grounds for arrest. Failure to do so affects the accused’s right to defend themselves. On that basis, Sonam was granted conditional bail.