Gender and Crime in Martial Relationships :Reimagining Legal Protections After the Raja

ABSTRACT

A honeymoon turned into homicide – the very famous ‘THE RAJA – SONAM
RAGHUVANSHI CASE OF INDORE ’ , involving the alleged murder of husband during the
couples honeymoon to Meghalaya , which created a nationwide debate not due to its
sensational nature but also involving multiple layers of social , legal , ethical , and regional
discrimination i.e jurisdictional challenge . The case brings major focus on the evolving
landscape within gender dynamics and also raises questions on consent , emotional coercion
and majorly on the institution of marriage .

This article clearly examines that the criminal intention is not biased to only one gender , the
article gives an intersection of gender and crime in marital relationships and it also challenges
the traditional assumptions that the women are always the passive victims of the marital
abuse . Using this case , the article explores how current Indian laws fails to recognize
psychological abuse , forced marriage and marital manipulation which further contributes as
a major factors for criminal outcomes.
By analyzing legal provisions under the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita , Indian Penal Code ,
Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita or Criminal Procedure Code and widely emerging
feminist jurisprudence , the paper argues for a gender – neutral, relationship sensitive
approach to criminal laws . It also discusses the urgent need to reforms martial laws or
additional legal reforms to protect MEN and ensure gender equality in Martial crime laws
and to provide evidence procedures which reflects modern realities of marriage, where both
spouses can be victims and perpetrators due to social and emotional pressure .

KEYWORDS

Martial crimes, Gender and law , Raja Sonam Case , Forced marriage , Consent , Emotional
Coercion , Criminal Conspiracy , Legal Reform India , False 498A IPC cases, Misuse of
dowry laws, Section 498A IPC misuse, Gender-neutral domestic violence laws, Male
victims of domestic violence, Legal harassment by wife, Protection for husbands in India,
Matrimonial cruelty against men, Legal bias against men, PIL for men’s rights.

1.)INTRODUCTION

Marriage is often seen as a sacred bond in Indian society. But behind closed doors, not every
marriage is safe or happy. Sometimes , one partner may control , manipulate ,or even harm
or abuse verbally and physically or emotionally . Traditionally, we’ve assumed that women
are always the victims and men are the aggressors . But recent cases are challenging that
view, new trends are setup by women’s .
The Raja – Sonam Raghuvanshi case is one such example. Raja , a young man from Madhya
Pradesh (Indore), was found dead while on his honeymoon with his wife, Sonam. What
followed shocked everyone : Sonam was accused of being involved in his murder, and it was
suggested that she had planned it before the wedding . This case opens up big questions: Are
our laws prepared to deal with crimes committed by spouse ? What happens when the
.victim is male ? And are we doing enough to prevent such things ?
2.)The Case in Brief
The Raja Raghuvanshi murder case involves the death of an Indore-based businessman
during his honeymoon in Meghalaya. His wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, is the prime
accused, along with her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha, and three contract killers. The
incident has led to widespread shock and demands for a thorough investigation.
Raja Raghuvanshi, who married Sonam on May 11, went missing on May 23 during their
honeymoon in Meghalaya. His body was discovered on June 2 in a gorge in the Sohra
area of East Khasi Hills district. Sonam was later arrested, with family members alleging
she was involved in his murder and seeking a narco test. Three hitmen were also arrested
in connection with the case.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
Victim: Raja Raghuvanshi, a businessman from Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
Accused: Sonam Raghuvanshi (wife) and Raj Singh Kushwaha (alleged lover).
Crime: Raja Raghuvanshi was murdered during his honeymoon in Meghalaya.
Location: Sohra (Cherrapunjee), Meghalaya.
Timeline: Raja went missing on May 23, and his body was found on June 2.
Conspiracy: Sonam is accused of planning the murder with Raj Singh Kushwaha and
three contract killers.
Legal Proceedings: Sonam and Raj Singh Kushwaha have been in police custody, and
the investigation is ongoing
Sonam later turned herself in , and police investigations revealed that she might have
been in a relationship with another man and had plotted the murder with his help.
Some viral videos even showed Sonam looking sad or forced during the wedding rituals.
People started wondering if she had agreed to the marriage willingly or not. The case
raised many eyebrows, not just about the crime itself but also about the relationship
dynamics that led up to it.
Legally , the case is being prosecuted under –

Section 302 ( murder)
Section 120B (Criminal Conspiracy )
Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence )
Section 34 ( common intention ) under IPC
3.)What the Law Says About Crimes in Marriage
In India , there are legal protection for women’s who face cruelty from their husbands
or in – laws .
For example:
“
Section 498A in The Indian Penal Code, 1860
498A. Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to
cruelty.—
Whoever, being the husband or the relative of the husband of a woman, subjects such
woman to cruelty shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend
to three years and shall also be liable to fine.Explanation.— For the purpose of this
section, “cruelty” means—(a)any wilful conduct which is of such a nature as is likely
to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb
or health (whether mental or physical) of the woman; or(b)harassment of the woman
where such harassment is with a view to coercing her or any person related to her to
meet any unlawful demand for any property or valuable security or is on account of
failure by her or any person related to her to meet such demand. ’’
Bigamy – Section 82,
“BNS Section 82 of the BNS criminalizes bigamy, i.e., contracting a second
marriage while the first is still subsisting. This section mirrors the repealed Section
494 of the IPC, with enhanced procedural clarity and alignment with constitutional
values. The section is significant in protecting women from deception and
maintaining the sanctity of monogamous marriages, especially under personal laws
that prescribe monogamy. ”
Fraudulent Marriage Ceremony – Section 84,
“BNS Section 84 replaces Section 496 IPC, dealing with fraudulent or sham
marriage ceremonies. This provision targets individuals who undergo a marriage
ceremony without the intention of creating a legal marital relationship. Such deceitful
conduct, often aimed at exploiting the trust of the woman or her family, constitutes a
criminal act under the BNS.”
Domestic Violence Act , 2005
The remedies provided in the Domestic Violence Act, 2005 are to provide for a more
effective protection of the rights of women guaranteed under the Constitution of India.
Relief, remedy or compensation under the Act is by way of monetary relief,
counselling, medical assistance, custody of children and a right to reside in the
shared household. These problems are highly women centric and thus were included
specifically in the Act to provide relief. These remedies though would’ve been
available under the general course of law but enacting the act ensured the dispersal
of these remedies to the women facing the issue of Domestic Violence.
But there’s a gap: what if the man is the victim? Or what if the abuse isn’t physical
but emotional ? The law doesn’t talk much about men being victims of domestic
abuse , and emotional or psychological abuse , is still hard to prove in court . Also ,
when it comes to marriage , there’s no legal concept of “emotional consent”- a person
may be legally married but not emotionally willing .
4.)Should the Law Be Gender- Neutral ?
This is where the debate begins, the debate over gender – neutral laws is complex and
involves balancing the principles of equality, fairness , and the specific needs of different
groups.
A gender- neutral law means that the law applies equally to all individuals , regardless of
their gender . The idea is to ensure that everyone is treated fairly under the law , without any
biases or discrimination based on gender.
Some people argue that gender-neutral laws are essential for achieving true equality. They
believe that laws should not differentiate between men and women and that everyone should
have the same rights and responsibilities.
However , others argue that gender-specific laws are sometimes necessary to address the
unique needs and vulnerabilities of certain groups . They might argue that completely genderneutral laws could inadvertently disadvantage those who have historically faced
discrimination.
Some people say making the law gender-neutral will harm women’s protections, which they
still need. But others argue that not all victims are women and not all criminals are men . If
we want fairness ,the law should protect all people , no matter their gender .
Other countries like the UK and Canada have starts using gender-neutral domestic violence
laws. Maybe it’s time India does the same. It doesn’t mean taking away protections from
women. It means giving the same protection to everyone – because crime in relationships
can happen to anyone.
5.)Social Media , Stereotypes, and Trial by Internet
Another strange and sad part of this case was how quickly it went viral and also the case was
not only tried in court , but also in the public arena . Memes, hashtags ,and emotionally
charged posts took over social media platforms . People watched Sonam’s wedding video and
claimed she was forced into marriage . Others blamed people from the Northeast for the
crime, even though there was no proof of local involvement. The internet turned into
courtroom , with people picking sides and passing judgement .
This kind of media attention can be dangerous . It can ruin lives and affect actual court trials.
We need better rules around what can be posted or said online about on going legal cases ,
especially those involving sensitive family issues .
6.)Emotional Coercion and Consent
One of the least discussed forms of abuse in marriage is emotional coercion. Consent in
marriage is often viewed only in terms of sexual relations or the marriage ceremony itself.
But what about deeper psychological consent? What about situations where one partner is
pressured, either by family or society , into a relationship they don’t truly want ?
In the Raja – Sonam case, many believe Sonam did not enter the marriage willingly . If
true, she too may be a victim – but that doesn’t change the fact that Raja ultimately lost
his life . Emotional coercion can affect both spouses , and the legal system currently lacks
the tools to analyse such dynamics in a meaningful way.
7.)What Can the Law do Better
Here are some clear areas where legal reforms are needed :
1.] Introduce gender-neutral language in all domestic violence and marital crime laws.
2.] Legally define emotional and psychological abuse , especially in marital contexts.
3,] Develop tools and guidelines for courts to evaluate evidence of emotional coercion .
4.] Protect the privacy of individuals involved in intimate crimes , especially during trial.
5,] Train law enforcement officers to handle marital disputes with sensitivity to both
male and female victims.
Several Recent Cases
Here are several recent cases—from India and overseas—highlighting instances of
violence or abuse by wives against their husbands:

Mentally unwell man beaten to death by wife (Vijayawada, June 2025)
A 45-year-old man, Bolem Srinivasa Rao—who suffered from mental illness—was allegedly
assaulted repeatedly by his wife, Mangamma. She reportedly beat him with a stick, including
blows to his genitals. Rao succumbed to his injuries later that evening
timesofindia.indiatimes.com+5en.themooknayak.com+5indiatoday.in+5timesofindia.indiatim
es.com.
Wife murders husband, stages suicide (Hingoli district, June 2025)
Sumitra Galande was arrested for allegedly killing her 42-year-old husband, Kailas, by
striking him on the head. She then attempted to set the body on fire to simulate a suicide
scenario timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Jaipur wife, with lover, murders husband (April 2025)
In a brutal case, Gopali Devi strangled her husband, Dhannalal Saini, with the help of her
lover. Their plan included packing him in a sack and attempting to burn the body. The story
shocked Jaipur’s residents theprint.in+1reddit.com+1.
Meerut murder hidden in drum (recent weeks)
A gruesome case reported in Meerut involved a wife and her lover murdering her husband.
They dismembered the body and concealed it inside a sealed cement drum
reddit.com+1economictimes.indiatimes.com+1.
Series of ‘husband-killer’ cases (across India)
A disturbing pattern across small-town India—from Indore to Bhiwani—has emerged where
wives, often enlisting accomplices or lovers, have murdered their husbands. These cases have
garnered national attention over the past few weeks
theprint.in+1economictimes.indiatimes.com+1.
Conclusion
The Raja – Sonam case is not just a murder case- it’s a mirror. It shows us how deeply
flawed our assumptions are about gender , crime , and marriage . Men can be victims too.
Women can be perpetrators. And the law should see things as they are, not as we wish
them to be .
Laws must evolve to protect all individuals in a marriage , regardless of gender.
Emotional and psychological harm must be recognised alongside physical abuse . And
our courtrooms must be insulated from public opinion so that justice is fair and unbiased.
If we fail to learn from cases like this , we will keep failing the very people the law is
meant to protect.
As society changes, our laws must keep up. It’s time we stop looking at marriage as a safe
space by default and start asking harder questions- about power , about consent , and
about justice . Only then can we protect people from harm , no matter who they are .
“ Should India move towards stronger Gender-Neutral Spousal Abuse protections ?”
“Can emotional coercion or manipulation within marriage amount to criminal
liability?”
Reference & Bibliography
1.) Indian Penal Code , 1860
2.) Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita , 2023
3.) Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act , 2005
4.) Criminal Procedure Code ,1973
5.) Meghalaya honeymoon murder: Raja Raghuvanshi’s kin seeks narco test
on Sonam, her lover to bare ‘full truth’(THE HINDU)
6.) https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/wife-surrenders-3-othersarrested-how-police-cracked-meghalaya-honeymoon-murder-casetimeline-of-key-events/articleshow/121717342.cm
7.) https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/raja-raghuvanshi-murder-case-sonamraghuvanshi-albert-pde-tourist-guide-the-man-who-helped-crack-rajaraghuvanshi-murder-case-86
8.) K.D Gaur, Textbook on Indian Penal Code, LexisNexis (2021)
9.) National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Report,2023
10.) Law Commission of India , 243rd Report on Gender and Justice in
India (2012)
11.) UN Women , Progress of the World’s Women 2019-2020: Families
in a Changing World (2019)
12.) timesofindia.indiatimes.com+5en.themooknayak.com+5indiatoday.in+5times
ofindia.indiatimes.com.
13.) timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
14.) theprint.in+1reddit.com+1.
15.) reddit.com+1economictimes.indiatimes.com+1.
16.) theprint.in+1economictimes.indiatimes.com+1.