SHILLONG, July 4: Despite the High Court of Meghalaya slamming the state police for a “total non-application of mind” in the Sonam Raghuvanshi murder case, BJP MLA AL Hek on Saturday defended the force’s investigation, even as he admitted that such high-profile accused should not normally be granted bail.
The High Court recently upheld a lower court’s decision to grant bail to Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon in the state.
The Court’s ruling was a direct indictment of local law enforcement, citing “serious procedural lapses” in how the grounds of arrest were communicated to the accused.
The Court observed that these failures reflected a “total non-application of judicious mind” by the police—a technicality that paved the way for Raghuvanshi’s release.
Speaking on the development, Hek offered a contradictory assessment of the situation. While he maintained that “there is nothing to question” if the law finds an accused fit for bail, he simultaneously argued for stricter judicial standards.
“From the criminal point of view, they should not be given bail as similar cases are being reported from different places,” Hek said, stressing the need for a firm hand in such high-profile matters.However, Hek stopped short of criticising the Meghalaya Police for the procedural errors that compromised the state’s case. Instead, he described the investigation as “brilliant,” citing the speed with which the police initially cracked the case.
The Supreme Court has since declined to stay the bail order. The ease with which the prime suspect secured release in less than a year has turned the spotlight on the competency of the Meghalaya Police and whether procedural negligence is undermining justice in the state.
