Charges Filed Against Seven in Zubeen Garg Case as Trial Approaches

Charges Framed in Zubeen Garg's Death Case

Guwahati, May 26: A fast-track court has officially framed charges against all seven individuals implicated in the death of Assam’s beloved cultural figure, Zubeen Garg. This development paves the way for the trial to proceed, as none of the accused accepted the charges against them.

The proceedings took place in front of Judge Sharmila Bhuyan at the fast-track court.

After the hearing, Special Public Prosecutor Ziaul Kamar addressed the media, stating that the court deemed the charges sufficient to advance following arguments from both parties.

"Today, charges have been formally framed against all accused under Sections 3(6), 3(7), and 3(8). This indicates that the investigation conducted by Assam Police has been validated," he explained.

Kamar noted that conspiracy charges were applied to all defendants except for Sandipan Garg.

He elaborated on the legal provisions, mentioning that Section 3(6) pertains to criminal acts executed by multiple individuals sharing a common intent or knowledge.

After the charges were framed, each accused was informed of the decision and given the opportunity to accept or reject the charges. All seven denied the allegations and opted for a trial.

Kamar confirmed that with the charge-framing concluded, there will be no additional hearings until June 8, when the trial is set to begin.

Following the hearing, Garima Saikia Garg, the widow of the late icon, remarked that the case is now transitioning into the witness examination phase, which she recognized could be protracted.

"While I hope for a swift resolution, there are 394 witnesses listed. It’s possible that not all will be called, but a significant number will be examined. We will await the trial with patience," she stated.

The seven individuals facing charges include Shyamkanu Mahanta, Siddharth Sharma, Sandipan Garg, Shekharjyoti Goswami, Amritprava Mahanta, Nandeswar Bora, and Paresh Baishya.