Supreme Court Flags Clash Over Written Arrest Grounds, Eyes Larger Bench Review

India's Supreme Court has signaled it might refer a crucial question – whether police and other agencies must give written reasons for arrest – to a larger group of judges. This comes after a two-judge bench noted conflicting past rulings while hearing a case where bail was granted due to a typo in the arrest papers for Sonam Raghuvanshi, accused in a high-profile 'honeymoon murder' from May 2025. The core issue touches upon a fundamental right for anyone arrested across the country. The legal confusion stems from recent judgments. While the 2023 'Pankaj Bansal' ruling and the November 2025 'Mihir Raja Shah' decision made it clear that written grounds of arrest are mandatory, especially in cases under laws like the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, another ruling in 'Vihaan Kumar' from February 2025 suggested that only communicating, not necessarily writing, the grounds was enough. This inconsistency has created uncertainty for both law enforcement and citizens, particularly concerning personal liberty guaranteed by the Constitution. With the Meghalaya government challenging Sonam Raghuvanshi's bail, the Solicitor General argued that a clerical error shouldn't overshadow a serious crime. The Supreme Court's potential move to a larger bench could bring much-needed clarity, settling a debate that significantly impacts how arrests are made nationwide and safeguarding the rights of the accused. The matter is set for further hearing, meaning a definitive resolution that shapes India's criminal justice procedures could be on the horizon.