What happened

The Supreme Court indicated that Sonam Raghuvanshi, accused of killing her husband Raja Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, may have to surrender and face trial unless she surrenders voluntarily. The court made the observation while hearing Meghalaya’s appeal against bail.

The bench also asked her lawyer to confirm whether she was willing to surrender on her own. The court said it would either decide the case on merits or issue an order directing her to surrender.

Why the case matters for UPSC

The case is relevant to bail jurisprudence, the scope of judicial discretion, and the tension between personal liberty and the orderly conduct of a criminal trial. It also connects to the constitutional guarantee of fair procedure under Article 21 and to the role of courts in ensuring that witness examination is not undermined.

Background and earlier position