The Supreme Court on Friday declined to stay the bail granted to Sonam Raghuvanshi in the alleged Meghalaya honeymoon murder case while seeking a counter-affidavit from Sonam Raghuvanshi.

Appearing for the State, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the case involved a pre-planned murder in which Sonam allegedly conspired with three accomplices to kill her husband during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. He submitted that she participated in the assault, after which the victim’s body was thrown into a gorge. The State further contended that Sonam had absconded after the incident and was later arrested in Uttar Pradesh.

The Solicitor General assailed the High Court’s decision to grant bail, arguing that it rested solely on a technical defect in the arrest memo regarding the incorrect mention of the penal provision, despite the accused having been informed of the grounds of arrest and despite the issue never having been raised in her first three bail applications.

During the hearing, Justice Sundresh observed that an incorrect citation of the statutory provision “is not a big thing” and that prejudice would have to be demonstrated. The Bench also questioned whether such a plea could be raised only after multiple unsuccessful bail applications.

Opposing the State’s plea, counsel for Sonam Raghuvanshi contended that the grounds of arrest had never been properly communicated and that the document served on her was merely a pro forma lacking the necessary particulars.

However, after hearing both sides, the Bench declined to grant an interim stay of the bail order. Justice Sundresh observed that, considering the submissions made and the fact that the bail order had already been given effect to, the Court was not inclined to pass an order of stay, noting that bail is the rule and jail is the exception. The Court granted Sonam Raghuvanshi time to file a counter-affidavit and listed the matter for further hearing on July 09, 2026.