Indore: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the authorities to ensure that no effigies of Sonam Raghuvanshi, who allegedly got her husband killed during their honeymoon, or any other individuals, are burnt during the Dussehra festivities in Indore.
Sonam’s husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, went missing on May 23 during the couple’s honeymoon in Meghalaya, and his mutilated body was found on June 2 in a deep ravine near a waterfall in the Sohra area (also known as Cherrapunji) of East Khasi Hills district. Sonam and several others, including her alleged boyfriend, have been arrested in the case.
‘Paurush’ (People Against Unequal Rules Used to Shelter Harassment), an Indore-based social organisation, had earlier this week stated that it was preparing an 11-headed effigy for ‘Surpanakha dahan’, which will 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 held that such an act would be impermissible in a democratic country like India, and respondents cannot violate fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
The court passed the order on a petition filed by Sonam’s mother, Sangeeta Raghuvanshi, against the organisation. The court, in its order, 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.”