By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 29: A day after prime accused Sonam Raghuvanshi was released on bail due to serious lapses in police paperwork, the second accused in the sensational Sohra “honeymoon murder” case, Raj Kushwaha, has moved the court seeking relief on grounds of parity.
The legal counsel for Kushwaha, Phuyosa Yobin, confirmed that a hearing on the bail application took place on Wednesday. The defense argued that since the prime accused has been granted bail, Kushwaha is entitled to the same under the principle of parity.
“The court has reserved its judgment,” Yobin said.
The development follows a significant setback for the prosecution on Tuesday, when the court of Additional Deputy Commissioner (Judicial) DR Kharbteng granted bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi. Despite a 790-page charge sheet filed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), the court found that procedural errors during her arrest justified her release.
While granting bail, the court directed Sonam to furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with two sureties. She was further ordered not to tamper with evidence, to attend all hearings, and to remain within the court’s jurisdiction. The case involves the alleged murder of Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, who went missing on May 23, 2025, during a trip to Meghalaya. His body was recovered from a deep gorge near Wei Sawdong Falls in Sohra on June 2.
SIT investigations alleged that Sonam Raghuvanshi conspired with Raj Kushwaha to kill her husband, reportedly hiring three others—Akash Rajput, Anand Kurmi, and Vishal Singh Chauhan—to carry out the crime.
The police filed their massive charge sheet in September last year. However, the current “procedural blunder” regarding arrest protocols now threatens the prosecution’s ability to maintain custody of the key suspects. Legal experts suggest that if the prime accused’s bail holds, the prosecution faces an uphill battle in keeping the remaining suspects behind bars.
