The family of Raja Raghuvanshi has welcomed the surrender of prime accused Sonam Raghuvanshi and has reiterated its demand for stringent punishment for those accused in the murder case. Bipin Raghuvanshi, Raja’s brother, arrived in Shillong on Tuesday to appear before the court in connection with the ongoing proceedings.
Bipin expressed his desire for maximum punishment for Sonam and the other accused, stating that the family would be satisfied only when they receive the strictest punishment possible. He even suggested that they should be given the death penalty if possible. Bipin emphasized that the family would be able to find peace only after justice is delivered.
The trial in the case should be completed at the earliest, and Bipin expressed hope that Sonam would remain in custody until the conclusion of the proceedings. He stated that Sonam should be given life imprisonment after the trial. Bipin also raised concerns over the lack of adequate institutional mechanisms to address complaints made by men, particularly in cases involving alleged harassment or abuse in relationships.
He alleged that while complaints made by women are often acted upon immediately, complaints made by men are not always given the same consideration. Bipin cited the example of a man going to a police station to file a complaint, stating that his complaint is not immediately heard, unlike when a woman files a complaint.
The Meghalaya government’s decision to pursue the matter following the High Court’s bail order has given Bipin hope that the legal process would ultimately ensure justice for Raja. The Supreme Court had directed Sonam to surrender, following the legal proceedings surrounding the Meghalaya High Court’s bail order. Raja Raghuvanshi was allegedly murdered during his honeymoon trip to Meghalaya in May, leading to the arrest of Sonam and other accused persons.
