SG Cites Ketan Agarwal Death Opposing Bail for Meghalaya 'Honeymoon Murder' Accused

In a significant development concerning high-profile murder cases, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta recently cited the chilling Ketan Agarwal murder case before the Supreme Court of India, emphasizing a disturbing rise in such instances while vehemently opposing the bail granted to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the 'honeymoon murder' of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi in Meghalaya. The Supreme Court, comprising a bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Sheel Nagu, heard the Meghalaya government's challenge against the bail order. The 'honeymoon murder' case dates back to May 23, 2025, when Raja Raghuvanshi, an Indore-based businessman, and his newlywed wife, Sonam, went missing during their honeymoon in Meghalaya's Sohra area. Raja's body was discovered in a deep gorge near the Weisawdong Falls in the East Khasi Hills on June 2, 2025, approximately ten days after their disappearance. Sonam Raghuvanshi, who was found later near a dhaba on the Varanasi-Ghazipur main road, was subsequently arrested on June 9, 2025, alongside 21-year-old Raj Kushwaha, as prime suspects. Police investigations and the subsequent 700-page chargesheet claimed the murder was premeditated by Sonam and her alleged lover, Kushwaha, with the objective of securing financial gain. Sonam Raghuvanshi was granted bail by a Shillong trial court on April 27, 2026. This bail was upheld by the Meghalaya High Court on June 29, 2026. The primary ground for her bail was a procedural lapse: the police had erroneously cited Section 403(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) instead of Section 103(1) (punishment for murder) in the grounds of arrest provided to her. This 'minor typographical error' or 'clerical mistake' was deemed a violation of her constitutional rights under Article 22, which mandates that an arrested person must be informed of the grounds for their arrest. The error was noted to be present across multiple documents, including the arrest memo, making it a significant procedural flaw. Appearing for the State of Meghalaya, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued strongly against the bail in the Supreme Court on July 3, 2026, stating that the facts of the Raja Raghuvanshi case were 'really painful' and would 'shock the Court's conscience.' He highlighted the serious nature of the allegations, asserting that Sonam could not be released on what he described as technical grounds. Mehta submitted that the murder was premeditated, involving Sonam, her alleged boyfriend, and two other accomplices who killed Raja and threw his body into a gorge. During his submissions, the Solicitor General drew a parallel to the recent Ketan Agarwal death case, lamenting that 'such incidents are increasing.' Ketan Agarwal, a 26-year-old real estate businessman from Pune, died on June 18, 2026, after allegedly being pushed off a cliff at Lohagad Fort. What initially appeared to be an accidental fall turned into a murder investigation, with police accusing his fiancée, Siya Goyal (20), and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary (22), of conspiring to kill him. Both Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody, with investigations relying on circumstantial and digital evidence. Despite the Solicitor General's fervent arguments and the Supreme Court expressing 'reservations' about the High Court's order, the apex court ultimately refused to stay Sonam Raghuvanshi's bail. The bench observed that since she had already been released from jail and was in Shillong complying with trial court bail conditions, it would exercise caution before reversing the order. Justice Sundresh also raised questions about what prevented the authorities from re-arresting the accused if the bail was granted due to a mere typographical error. The court, while issuing notice on the Meghalaya government's plea, has posted the matter for further hearing upon the reopening of the Supreme Court. Justice Sundresh remarked that 'some introspection is required by different stakeholders' regarding these kinds of cases. This case underscores the complexities of legal proceedings, where grave allegations of murder intersect with fundamental procedural rights, and highlights concerns raised by top legal officers regarding patterns of violent crime in relationships across the country. The similarities between the Raja Raghuvanshi and Ketan Agarwal cases, both involving alleged intimate partner violence and conspiracy, have drawn national attention.

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