The Kamrup Metropolitan District and Sessions Court is set to hear and decide the bail petitions of three accused in the Zubeen Garg death case on Friday, January 30. The court is examining the bail pleas of singer Amritprabha Mahanta and Zubeen Garg’s personal security officers (PSOs), Paresh Baishya and Nandeshwar Bora. A decision on their applications is expected later in the day.
Earlier, during a hearing on January 22, two other accused—North East India Festival director Shyamkanu Mahanta and the late singer’s cousin Sandipan Garg—withdrew their bail petitions. Shyamkanu Mahanta has been charged with murder, while Sandipan Garg, a suspended Assam Police officer, faces charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Two additional accused in the case—Garg’s secretary Siddhartha Sharma and band member Shekhar Jyoti Goswami—have not applied for bail so far. During the previous hearing, the accused appeared before the court virtually, while Zubeen Garg’s wife Garima and his sister Palmee Borthakur were present in person. Speaking to reporters, Garima said the prosecution had strongly opposed the bail pleas and expressed satisfaction with the arguments presented.
Zubeen Garg died under mysterious circumstances on September 19 while attending the North East India Festival in Singapore, where he was reported to have drowned while swimming in the sea. Following public demand, the Assam government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which submitted its chargesheet on December 12.
According to the SIT chargesheet, Shyamkanu Mahanta, Siddhartha Sharma, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprabha Mahanta have been charged with murder. Sandipan Garg has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, while the two PSOs face charges of criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust.
Earlier, the state cabinet appointed a five-member team of special public prosecutors, led by senior advocate Ziaul Kamar. Brojendra Mohan Choudhury was named additional public prosecutor, while Kishor Dutta, Pranjal Dutta and Vikash Jammar were appointed assistant public prosecutors.
The case continues to draw widespread attention across Assam as the court prepares to rule on the bail pleas later today.
