New Delhi | The Supreme Court on Monday gave Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the murder of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, two options while hearing the Meghalaya government’s challenge to the bail granted to her by a trial court and subsequently upheld by the Meghalaya High Court.

A Bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and P.B. Varale indicated that it could either decide the state government’s appeal against the bail order on merits after hearing Sonam’s arguments or direct her to surrender while the Court considers the matter and witnesses are examined.

“You have two options. Either we will pass an order on merits or we will ask you to surrender, let the public witnesses be examined – meanwhile we will decide the matter on merits,” the Bench orally observed during the proceedings. Seeking time to obtain instructions from his client, Sonam’s counsel told the Court that he would respond when the matter is taken up again on Thursday.

The hearing also saw the Bench raise questions regarding Sonam’s conduct following the alleged murder and seek clarification on her contention that the “grounds of arrest” had not been communicated to her.

Appearing for the Meghalaya government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta strongly opposed the bail granted to Sonam, arguing that she had voluntarily surrendered before the police and could not subsequently challenge the legality of her arrest on the ground that the reasons for arrest were not furnished.

Mehta submitted that any omission in the arrest memo amounted to a clerical error and did not invalidate the arrest process.

“If the arrested accused is caught red-handed, there is no reason to provide grounds of arrest. If a person surrenders, the arrested person cannot subsequently use the grounds that the grounds of arrest were not provided. If the accused herself comes to the police, there is no reason for the police to arrest,” Mehta argued before the Court.

The Meghalaya government has approached the apex court challenging the orders of both the trial court and the Meghalaya High Court that granted bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi. She is accused of conspiring to murder her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, during the couple’s honeymoon trip to Meghalaya in a case that attracted nationwide attention due to its sensational nature and the circumstances surrounding the alleged crime.

The state government has maintained that the seriousness of the allegations and the stage of the investigation warranted cancellation of bail.

The Supreme Court did not pass any interim order on Monday and deferred further consideration of the matter until Thursday, when Sonam’s counsel is expected to inform the Bench whether she is willing to surrender or contest the Meghalaya government’s appeal against her bail on merits.

The outcome of the hearing is likely to determine whether Sonam continues to remain on bail or is required to return to custody pending a final decision on the state’s challenge.