Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed authorities to prevent any effigy of Sonam Raghuvanshi, accused in her husband’s murder, from being burnt during Dussehra in Indore. The court emphasized that such acts violate fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21.
Indore: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued strict directions to the authorities to ensure that no effigies of Sonam Raghuvanshi, who is accused of allegedly killing her husband during their honeymoon, or any other individuals, are burnt during the upcoming Dussehra festivities in Indore.
Sonam Raghuvanshi’s husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, went missing on May 23 during the couple’s honeymoon in Meghalaya. His mutilated body was later recovered on June 2 from a deep ravine near a waterfall in the Sohra area of East Khasi Hills district.
Following the investigation, Sonam and several others, including her alleged boyfriend, have been arrested in connection with the case.
Earlier this week, an Indore-based social organisation named ‘Paurush’ had announced plans to prepare an 11-headed effigy for ‘Surpanakha Dahan.’ The effigy was reportedly to feature images of women accused of heinous murders of their husbands, children, or in-laws, including Sonam Raghuvanshi.
A single bench of Justice Pranay Verma on Saturday stated that such acts cannot be allowed in a democratic country like India. The court clarified that respondents cannot violate fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
The court passed this order following a petition filed by Sonam’s mother, Sangeeta Raghuvanshi, challenging the organisation’s plans.
The court said,
“Even if the petitioner’s daughter is an accused in a criminal case and whatsoever may be the grievance of the respondent against her and her family members, it cannot be permitted to resort to such effigy burning, which would certainly violate the fundamental rights of the petitioner, her daughter, as well as her entire family.”
Sangeeta Raghuvanshi had argued in her petition that the proposed effigy burning would cause severe and lasting damage to the dignity of her family.
She also claimed that it would amount to a gross violation of their fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21, which guarantee equality before law and the right to life and personal liberty.
She emphasized that even if her daughter is facing criminal charges, the organisation’s actions would constitute unlawful public humiliation, harm the family’s reputation, and infringe on their privacy.
During the hearing, the state counsel stated that an inquiry would be conducted in accordance with the law. However, after reviewing pamphlets and other documents submitted by the petitioner, the court observed that the organisation’s plans were clear and unacceptable.
Speaking to PTI on Sunday, Sangeeta Raghuvanshi said,
“The court has directed the district collector, police commissioner, and the station house officer to ensure no such effigy burning takes place and to prevent any unlawful or unconstitutional acts that could tarnish the family’s reputation.”
She further noted that the court’s order also prohibited the organisation from burning effigies of any women facing criminal charges from other states, underlining that such practices are unacceptable in a democratic society.
Responding to the court’s order, Ashok Dashor, the convener of ‘Paurush’, said,
“We had earlier justified the effigy burning as a symbolic destruction of ‘negative qualities like adultery, immorality, lack of values, and indecency,’ drawing parallels to mythological figures. However, with the arrival of the court direction, we will abide by the order.”
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Honeymoon Murder
